Blog Archive

Monday, November 14, 2011

MVBD2535 Blu-Ray WiFi Player

Memorex Wi-Fi Blu-Ray Player with 7.1 Channel Audio - Black (MVBD2535GPH)

Amazon Sales Rank: #9301 in Consumer Electronics Brand: Memorex Features: Multilingual Menu, Slow Motion Search Audio Features: Dolby Digital Plus Streaming Content: Blockbuster Online, Netflix, Pandora Wired Connectivity: Ethernet Wireless Technology: Wi-Fi Enabled Wireless Standard: IEEE 802.11b/g/n Digital Tuner: No Video Upconversion: 1080p Disc Capacity: 1 General Compatibility: Digital TVs, HDTVs Media Type Compatibility: SD Card File Formats Supported: MPEG 2, JPEG, H.264/AVC, MPEG 4 Channel Output: 7.1 Input Type: USB 2.0 Output Type: Analog L/R Audio, HDMI, Optical Digital Audio Number of HDMI Outputs: 1 Number of Audio Outputs: 2 Coaxial Digital Audio Outputs: 1 Optical Digital Audio Outputs: 1 Includes: Remote Control Batteries, Full-Function Remote Control Dimensions: 1.6 " H x 16.0 " W x 10.0 " D Weight: 5.0 Lb. Warranty Description: 1 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty

Most helpful customer reviews 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Died first day I had it By Maish I purchased this player because the price was just too good to pass up. It is tough to find a blu-ray player with built in Wi-Fi and Netflix for under $100. Set up was easy, no problems connecting to my network, streamed Netflix with out any issue. The netflix menu was very easy to navigate, you could browse your queue or search for titles. Pandora worked well. When attempting to update the firmware from the network connection it failed so I updated via flash drive. It seemed to install without issue. However 1/2 way through our first dvd (not a blu-ray disk) the unit locked up. I tried to reset the unit by unplugging, but it did no good. Could not get the unit to restart. Maybe I just got a bad unit, but why risk it. 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Great. When it works, that is. By linaka81 I'm not by any means a master when it comes to HD-TVs and blu-rays. I'm new to the game. That being said, my review is more for those simpletons such as myself who are just looking to tiptoe into the world of HD. I'll make it short and sweet. This is my first blu-ray player. From what little research I did, I learned that an internet-ready player is preferable for firmware updates and the like, as well as features like Netflix and YouTube. Pandora is something I never knew existed until this player, but that's cool too. My local Target had this for $150 bucks, which was perfect for me, seeing as how I wasn't on the hunt for anything spectacular, but just something that will play blu-ray discs that can get online without emptying my wallet too much. THE GOOD Set-up was VERY simple. It has wireless capability right out of the box, so setting that up was breezy too after I found my network. The menu is actually very cool to see and colorful, and very easy to navigate if you need to change the options (something I haven't really messed with). Everything worked great initially. My first test of blu-ray quality was "Avatar" which of course looked amazing. I watched Netflix no problem and learned about Pandora, no problem. But as my title of this review says, it's all "Great." But only "when it works." THE NUMEROUS BAD *Very slow load time for Blu-Ray discs. What adds to that annoyance is if I stop the blu-ray, most often they don't continue where I left off when I turn the player back on, which means I have to go through the same wait time for the disc to load, as well as searching for the scene where I left off. The whole process can take 10 minutes at least every time I stop a movie. I read about that in general with blu-rays and how quickly a player can load them, but never paid it much mind because I didn't think I'd care. Well, now I do. Some of my movies have taken nearly 3 minutes to boot up. I still hate that, but I've learned to deal with it by just loading the disc and keeping busy while it loads. I just hope I can finish the movie to avoid having to go through the arduous process again and again. *Doesn't want to turn on or off, but mostly just...ON. Sometimes it just inexplicably freezes up (though fortunately, at least for me, not during a movie). Too often I've pushed the power button on either my remote or player itself with no response. My only solution at first was to just unplug it, then plug it back in. Now I just hold the power button on the player for maybe 12 seconds to kind of give it a "stir." It sorta "boots up," then turns back off. After that, I push the power button again as normal and it turns on like it's supposed to. EXTREMELY frustrating and it does that more often than not, but again, something I just deal with. *Sometimes doesn't want to connect to my network. Now THAT is frustrating, since the player is telling me I'm connected but it doesn't just...CONNECT. Then when I am connected and I try to access blu-ray live content, it says I'm not connected. Obviously I'm thinking it's my

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sony BDV-F7 3D Blu-Ray Disc Soundbar Home Theater System

Experience Full HD 1080p1 and simple yet powerful surround sound in a sleek design with the 40" Sony BDV-F7 3D Blu-ray Disc Soundbar Home Theater System. 3D compatibility ensures that you enjoy incredible sound while you watch your favorite 3D movies3. Wirelessly stream personal entertainment like photos, videos and music4 or instantly access a wide variety of movies, music and more from: Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Pandora, Slacker, and YouTube.5

Amazon Sales Rank: #34963 in Home Theater Color: Black Brand: Sony Model: BDVF7 350-watt 2.1 ch. system with 40" soundbar, subwoofer7 Wi-Fi adapter supplied; 3D Blu-ray Disc playback8 Stream entertainment from Netflix, YouTube, others5 Stylish, space-saving design iPod music playback via front USB slot9

Experience Full HD 1080p1 and simple yet powerful surround sound in a sleek design with the 40" Sony BDV-F7 3D Blu-ray Disc Soundbar Home Theater System. 3D compatibility ensures that you enjoy incredible sound while you watch your favorite 3D movies3. Wirelessly stream personal entertainment like photos, videos and music4 or instantly access a wide variety of movies, music and more from: Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Pandora, Slacker, and YouTube.5

Most helpful customer reviews 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Great Piece to Add to your Entertainment By HeatherD I bought this as a birthday present for my husband. What caught my eye was the ability to stream Netflix, Pandora, etc. and hook up our ipods to it as well. We have Netflix though the Wii, but the picture quality is not great because the Wii doesn't have HD hook ups. Neither of us are very tech savvy, but were able to set it all up by ourselves in less than an hour, exploring the different features as we went. I would highly recommend this home theater system to anyone who wants to get high quality sound without wiring around your whole room. This excellent system was easy to hook up to our wireless internet and linked to our main desktop computer, so we can watch videos, and view pictures that are stored on our computer without hooking up any additional devices. It is also really cool to watch You Tube videos on our 40" TV as opposed to our 15" computer monitor. SO AWESOME! 8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A work of Art. Sound and Features belie it size and cost By Nautictalk I never write reviews. But since my interest was piqued with this system; I was surprised with the dearth of user reviews on the net. And because of this, I was indecisive and it took me a week or so until finally 'bit the bullet' and went with this system. So, I thought I would write this review and help those who are unsure of this system . On the face of it, this system had everything I was looking for. It's sleek, simple and powerful. And it was a design match for my new Bravia. I acquired this system because I wanted a simple system for my second home. I also wanted something that would complement my new Bravia 55" TV. First, this system is not only sleek and a work of modern art, it produced amazing sound which belied its size. I installed in a relatively large great room and the sound filled the room fully, powerfully and with clarity. We listened to Pandora music, and both my wife and I were simply amazed of the high fidelity. Yes, it's not 5.1, but all I just wanted a simple sound bar and small woofer with great sound. And the small subwoofer fit perfectly behind my TV stand, and was more than adequate to shake my room. It was relatively simple to set up. You connect one Ethernet cable to the cable box which was right next to my unit; although you have the option to do a wireless hookup. Then there was one set of speaker wires to the sound bar and one wire to the subwoofer. But the HDMI connection is where I had a problem. One of the reasons why I wanted this system was because of the ARC -HDMI connection. For those who don't know, the ARC feature basically enables the TV and added components to communicate back and forth. I incorrectly took it for granted that all the HDMI inputs were ARC enabled. In this case, I had incorrectly installed my cable box to the ARC HDMI and the system was connected to the standard HDMI. And because of this, I couldn't get any sound when everything finally connected up. I was mystified. I had to re-read both the TV manual and also the system manual, to finally `get it." I switched the connections, and all was well. But Sony should have really made this clear that the system must be specifically connected to the HDMI input indicated with only ARC enabled HDMI input. Sony should really address by highlighting this. The other issue is that you cannot easily switch back and forth to regular TV viewing and BD viewing. Unless I am doing something wrong, you have to deal with 2 remotes and remember the process. But it's not a real problem for me, because I don't really watch a lot of DVD's. All in all, these are really minor issues. But I have to say, the system greatly exceeded my expectations. It's a clean set up and the monolith design of the system matches perfectly to the Bravia TV. Also, I found that the upright position of the unit is a big advantage for me. I have

Saturday, November 12, 2011

NETGEAR RangeMax WNDA3100 Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter

Netgear Dualband Usb Adapter

Color: Black Brand: Netgear Model: WNDA3100 Platform: Windows Format: CD Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 3.42" h x .53" w x 1.09" l, .4 pounds Wirelessly Surf, Email, Stream Hd Video On-Line Game Internet Phone Calls Less Interference And Better Connections Better Speed And Range Than Other Usb Wireless-N Adapters

When you're ready to connect your desktop or laptop to a wireless hot spot or new Wireless-N network, the NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter (WNDA3100) will get the job done with outstanding speed, minimal interference and robust connections. Featuring the latest dual band Wireless-N technology, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter delivers exceptional range and speed of new Wireless-N devices while still offering backwards compatibility to older Wireless-G networks. This adapter will connect you to a Wireless-N network and let you surf, email, stream HD video, play on-line games, and even make Internet phone calls--simultaneously! .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: 20px; } table.callout { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif; margin: 10px; width: 250; } td.callout { height: 100 percent; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding: 10px; width: 250px; } ul.callout { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -12px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; } h5.callout { text-align: center; } The NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter: Lets your PC notebook connect to Wireless N networks and hotspots. Is backwards compatibile with Wireless-G networks and devices. Operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands to minimize interference. Is extremely portable--weighs less than one ounce. This highly portable adapter lets you connect to Wireless-N networks for long range and high speeds. View larger. Less Interference, Increased Range and Superior Performance When you use the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter to connect to a Wireless-N network, you can take advantage of the new technology's outstanding range and performance. Utilizing the latest dual band Wireless-N technology, when used with Wireless-N networks, can deliver more than 10 times the range and offer a throughput speed of up to 15 times greater than existing Wireless-G networks. Another notable advantage of dual band Wireless-N is that it works with up to 23 channels that operate on the 5GHz band. Wireless-G networks, on the other hand, operate on the 2.4-GHz band with only 3 channels, which is also home to some cordless phones, microwaves, and other devices that can cause interference. 5GHz Wireless-N avoids the interference that can interrupt Wireless-G networks, giving you greater reliability and performance. The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter turns your computer into a new dual band Wireless-N device, letting you connect securely to all new Wireless-N gateways, routers and access points. While the adapter is backwards compatible with any Wireless-G network or hot spot, its performance is optimized for use with the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (WNDR3300), HD/Gaming 5 GHz Wireless-N Networking Kit (WNHDE111/WNHDEB111), RangeMax Next Wireless-N Routers (WNR834B, WNR854T Gigabit version). USB Connectivity for Immediate Performance Offering better speed and range than other USB Wireless-N adapters, the RangeMax Wireless-N Dual Band Adapter--when used to connect to a Wireless-N network--lets you wirelessly surf, email, stream HD video, on-line game, make Internet phone calls--at the same time! Depending on your Internet connection, the adapter can provide you with enough bandwidth to support quick music downloads, file sharing and HD multimedia applications. This convenient and highly portable adapter, which weighs less than an ounce and is about the size of a lighter, is designed for your Windows XP or Vista notebook or desktop PC and simply plugs into any USB port. What's in the Box RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter (WNDA3100), installation guide, resource CD, and warranty/support information card. The adapter is portable and easy to install, making it easy to use with all your computers.

Most helpful customer reviews 66 of 67 people found the following review helpful. Failed to work with WNDR3700, fixed with WNDA3100v2 By Paul The WNDA3100 would timeout for 4 seconds approximately every 25 seconds plus other random 5-6 second timeouts. Was using latest drivers. Tried with 2 WNDR3700s in two different locations (one location had no other 2.4ghz channels in use.) Worked with Netgear on issue. The problem was instantly fixed when I obtained and installed a WNDA3100v2, which has the same model number, although it uses a different chipset and has a light and button which are shown on the packaging. Because it has the same model number, you will need to buy it locally so you can tell the difference. Returned the WNDA3100 (version1, 1 star) and kept the WNDA3100v2 (works, much better range, 5 stars) 21 of 22 people found the following review helpful. It bears repeating, this is junk. By Stanley Pain I returned this after one day of use. Even when paired with the RangeMax WNDR3300 Dual Band Wireless-N Router, connections consistently dropped. Wireless N performance was terrible--no speed increase was to be found when it actually connected. As others have mentioned, range is also quite terrible (lost 40% of signal through two wood doors, 20 feet away on the same level as the router). Netgear again has produced a piece of junk with this one. 24 of 26 people found the following review helpful. It worked perfectly until Windows 7 By sherkaran I used this adapter for about 6 months with Vista 32 bit OS and it worked flawlessly giving me 300 Mbps speed. When I decided to upgrade to Windows 7, it did not work out so well. The netgear drivers do not support windows 7 (even now when its released), which sucks. I was able to find drivers for it but they kept dropping the connection every few days. So, if you are not on Windows 7, this thing works fine. See all 94 customer reviews...

Friday, November 11, 2011

Samsung HT-C5500 Blu-ray Home Theater System

Be surrounded by superior sound with the Samsung HT-C5500 Blu-ray home theater system.

Amazon Sales Rank: #17035 in Home Theater Brand: Samsung Model: HT-C5500 Released on: 2010-03-01 Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 16.93" h x 12.83" w x 2.48" l, 7.72 pounds 1000W Output Power Crystal Amp Pro Intelligent Power Advanced Auto Sound Calibration Eco Power Management System

HT-C6500 Samsung’s 1000W HT-C5500 Home Theater System brings the entertainment home: Internet@TV delivers the best of the web, straight to your HDTV, with downloadable widgets and apps like BLOCKBUSTER, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Pandora and more. You can shop online, share pictures, catch up with friends and more. Connect to a wide range of streaming digital content at the touch of a button. Your Samsung Home Theater is also wireless-ready, giving you the convenience of less cords, less hassle. It’s also part of DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). Samsung’s DLNA certified TVs have AllShare, which enables content to be seamlessly streamed between DLNA devices, allowing you to play files stored on your PC or even use your telephone through your TV. Key Features Internet@TV: Connect to an ever-expanding portal of your favorite digital content. Customizable widgets give you access to BLOCKBUSTER, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and more – all on your HDTV. AllShare: Sync up your entire household. A wired or wireless DLNA connection lets you stream your PC audio and video files to your HDTV using your remote. 5.1 Channel Eco Power Management System Crystal Amp Pro iPod and iPhone dock 1000W Output Power Intelligent Power Advanced Auto Sound Calibration Technical Specifications HDMI out: 1

Most helpful customer reviews 111 of 115 people found the following review helpful. Great System, But Understand Its Limitations By VermontGuy The HT-C5500 is a solid all-in-one home theater package at a good price, but you need to know what it can--and can't--do before you decide to buy. First, some pros and cons: Pros: *Low cost *Compact *Easy setup *Integrates with Samsung AnyConnect+ TVs for one-step DVD playback *Decent enough sound and sufficient volume for a family room *Netflix and YouTube connectivity work well *Completely integrated in one relatively small unit *iPod/iPhone dock included *Speakers look nice and are very small and unobtrusive Cons: *Very limited inputs (Audio only; there are no HDMI inputs--the description above is wrong) *Flabby bass response (no surprise given the 8lb passive subwoofer) *Completely integrated--if one part dies, your entire home theater system is offline *Wireless Internet use requires optional ($70) proprietary Samsung LAN adapter *Proprietary speaker connectors *AnyConnect+ can be a little wonky: If you have a disc in the tray, DVD playback seems to override all the other functions such as Internet services or the AUX input. Even given all the Cons, this system suits my needs very well. I already owned a Samsung TV. I didn't want a proliferation of remotes or components. And the odd shape of my living room meant that I wasn't going to get optimal surround sound in any case, so I wasn't willing to pay a fortune for a system. I ran the HT-C5500's HDMI output to one input on my TV and connected my FIOS box's optical audio output and my Mac mini's analog audio output to the appropriate inputs on the HT-C5500. The HT-C5500's remote is nothing special, but it makes it quite easy (after a little practice and reading of the manual) to switch between setups. You still need, however, to manually switch between HDMI inputs on the TV depending on what source you want to watch. Note, however, that I'm at the absolute limit of what this system can do. I couldn't add, for instance, a game console into the mix. Still, I'm very happy with my purchase. Yes, the HT-C5500 hits a wall quickly, but if you intend to stop before that wall arrives, you won't be disappointed. 38 of 38 people found the following review helpful. Great product! By maverick I will start with what's bad and the reason why I gave it 4 stars.I have a Samsung TV and one of the reasons I bought this was so that I could sync all my devices using one remote and the Anynet feature(a Samsung AV network system to automatically control Samsung audio-video devices). This unfortunately has been a slow painful learning process, its working now but there are some unresolved issues (e.g.Anynet sometimes taking a long time to recognize devices). Lastly, I wish the rear speakers were wireless. You do have the option to buy an expensive low rated Samsung wireless receiver to fix the problem. Now to the good part. This is a 2010 model!!! not 09 not 08:) For the price you get-a home theater+ blu ray+ iPod dock+ FM + internet. Produces a great quality sound that really fills up my small apartment. I love the automatic sound calibration option that sets your speaker sound based on distance. I get crystal clear FM and the iPod dock works great with my iPod Nano. Lets be honest, its hard to get a decent home theater system with all these accessories for close to $400. Tips: 1)Buy an HDMI and optical audio cable from Amazon (does not come with the unit), some stores charge insane prices. 2)I would highly recommend reading the Anynet guide, just Google Anynet + guide to get it. Will save you a lot of time! 3)The price on the HT C5500 seem to change by $50 in different websites--shop around for the best price. 17 of 18 people found the following review helpful. sleek design and nice features By T. Dalton I spent a solid week researching which surround sound system to buy when i stumbled upon this one. I was also looking at the samsung bd 1250 which was

Thursday, November 10, 2011

LG LHB335 1100-Watt Network Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System, Black

LG has redefined what to expect from home theater. This isn't speakers and a receiver in a box. With the LHB355 Network Blu-ray Home Theater System, you get unrivaled Blu-ray technology, out-of-this world sound and instant entertainment...all in one. More than making the most of your Full HD with Blu-ray, NetCast™ Entertainment Access lets you directly tap into instant streaming movies, music and videos direct from the Internet to your TV.

Amazon Sales Rank: #20297 in Home Theater Color: Black Brand: LG Model: LHB335 Released on: 2010-03-09 Dimensions: 15.00" h x 19.60" w x 18.30" l, 31.80 pounds NetCast, Entertainment Access Blu-ray and DVD disc playback Silk Dome Speaker Technology HDMI Input Standard DVD Up-Scaling NetCast™ Entertainment Access

This isn't speakers and a receiver in a box. With the LHB335 Network Blu-ray Home Theater System, you get unrivaled Blu-ray technology, out-of-this world sound, and instant-streamed entertainment with NetCast™...all in one. Key Features NetCast™ Entertainment Access The end of "there's nothing on." NetCast™ Entertainment Access lets you stream instant, and virtually endless, entertainment from Netflix®, Vudu™, CinemaNow™, Pandora®, YouTube™, Picasa™, and AccuWeather®—direct to your TV from the Internet, no computer required. Blu-ray Disc™ Playback Make the most of your Full HD television. This next-generation, optical-disc format brings you the highest Full HD 1080p experience. That means it allows you to get the best picture-quality available, anywhere. Silk Dome Speaker Technology Hear movies, sports, and video games the way they're meant to be heard. Enjoy less distortion, clearer sound, and a better sound experience with LG's Silk Dome Speaker Technology.   Other Features HDMI™ V.1.3 with Deep Color Make the installation of any enabled device a snap. Get 10.2Gbps of bandwidth for deeper colors, and to take advantage of the best Full HD experience. Standard DVD Upscaling No need to go out and replace your old DVD collection. Even older-format DVDs will look better on a Blu-ray Disc™ Player with 1080p Upscaling via HDMI™ output. Pure HD Audio Performance There's more to HD than the picture. Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby® True HD, and dts-HD Advanced Digital Audio Out technologies provide an uncompressed next-generation audio experience for your home theater. Made for iPhone® and iPod® Tap into the tunes you love most. This system works with iPod® and iPhone® products. That means you can connect, charge, control, and play—directly from your portable players, anytime.   Additional Features USB Media Host SimpLink™

Most helpful customer reviews 95 of 103 people found the following review helpful. Love the features, hate the speaker noise and LG customer service By Rick Fox I recently purchased a LG LHB335 BluRay all in one surround sound home theater system from Best Buy. The center and right rear speakers emit a whistling noise that sounds like a teapot when boiling. Not quite that loud, but enough to be a very undesirable noise in a new unit. I took the first one back, BB gave me another. Same thing. Then another. Same thing. I have connected it to another location with speaker wiring and a Monster Power supply and yes, it does the same thing! I called LG and they said they have no reports on this problem, but when a search is conducted, many people are complaining. Until this issue is resolved, I would suggest not buying this unit! EDIT---More details: The LHB335 has a horrible "Tea Pot" whistling noise emitted from the center speaker. It also comes from the right rear speaker at times. It is so annoying that I took it back to Best Buy. Exchanged for another and same thing! I relocated the unit on a different electrical circuit and that did not help. Bought an expensive Monster power supply due to Best Buys recommendation which did NOT help at all. They asked me to try unit #3 and it also had the same noise! To make sure that it was not just a building electrical problem, I installed it in a friends home. SAME ISSUE! I called LG to discuss the problem and they said they had no reports of such a problem. That is NOT true. The internet has many comments regarding this speaker noise issue. After talking with some friends, they too have returned units with the same problem. I really liked the features of the LHB335, but will not buy another one unless LG can assure me that it will be one that does not whistle! Edit--Even More Details: 2/24/2011--With all of the positive comments I've seen posted, especially with claims that the noise has been fixed in units manufactured after June 2010, I thought I'll try another one for the basement game room. The price has been coming down drastically, and no wonder with all the bad PR, so I picked one up for $249 from Amazon. I received the unit in a couple of days, set it up (I can do it very quickly since I've been through more than a few of these) made the tweaks for inputs and presto..... No whistle... however there was NO SOUND AT ALL!!! After turning it off and on a few times the sound began working. But the sound would quit and then restart after 3-5 seconds. After talking with LG's deplorable customer service group, they said, "We haven't had any reports of that problem, send it to us and we will look at it." Once again LG displays horrible concern for their customer satisfaction! So it is going BACK TO AMAZON and I will never ever even consider another LG product!!!! So be forewarned.... LG does NOT mean Life is Good.... it means Lots of Grief!!! 44 of 49 people found the following review helpful. Great unit for the money By Rick McKelvey I purchased an LG television last fall and have really enjoyed it. When I needed a new combo system I found this LG system that fits my needs. It is the only one in this price range that allows you to hook up already existing speakers. Most units have those little plastic plugs that make you use their speakers. My U-verse DVR has an ethernet plug so the internet hookup was easy. It has an iPod dock and you can control your music playback onscreen. I have really enjoyed using the online capabilities. Netflix is adding more movies all the time and you can even view photos saved with Picasa(Google). Creating your own radio station using Pandora is icing on the cake. All-in-all, a great unit for the money. 61 of 71 people found the following review helpful. Disappointed in Sound Quality (Popping, Whistling & HDMI Problems as Well) By mrcatman We have a very simple setup, with 90% of our use being watching cable company's DVR on the TV. We purchased the upgraded

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Sony BDV-E770W Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System [3D Compatible]

Experience movies in full HD 1080p resolution and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound including wireless rear speakers with the BDV-E770W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. This great system minimizes movie wait times so you can begin watching faster than ever. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Slacker, YouTube and more.

Amazon Sales Rank: #22954 in Home Theater Color: Black Brand: Sony Model: BDV-E770W Dimensions: 22.32" h x 18.78" w x 18.78" l, 40.78 pounds 1000 watt, 5.1-channel surround sound system with Blu-ray Disc player Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p, including 3D Blu-ray Discs BRAVIA Internet Video for instant streaming of content from Netflix, YouTube, Slacker, and more Wireless S-AIR rear speakers minimize wire clutter Turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a remote with a free app

Awaken your senses and experience your movies in high-definition with this 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system, which features 5.1-channel surround sound and wireless rear speakers. Experience movies in Full HD 1080p resolution and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound including wireless rear speakers with the BDV-E770W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. This great system minimizes movie wait times so you can begin watching faster than ever. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Slacker, YouTube and more. BRAVIA Internet Video Instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV episodes, videos and music from a large selection of entertainment apps including: Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Slacker--the list goes on and on. Gracenote Metadata Service instantly gives you access to detailed information about the movies you are watching. And when you're watching your favorite movies, Cross Search functionality easily allows you to search select BRAVIA Internet Video partners for entertainment or information related to the disc that you are enjoying. Achieve a cinematic experience at home with the Sony BDV-E770W theater system 3D Blu-ray Disc Full HD 1080p playback Enjoy 3D Blu-ray Disc movies in full HD 1080p and experience the next generation of home theater entertainment. The BDV-E770W Also supports standard Blu-ray Disc movies in high definition and upscales DVDs to near HD quality. Blu-ray Disc audio decoding lets you experience sound closer to the way it was captured with LPCM, Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD master audio codecs. Share Personal Entertainment via DLNA and Wi-Fi Stream music, videos and photos from compatible DLNA devices (like a PC) using your home network. The BDV-E770W is a certified DLNA client and easily connects to your existing wireless broadband network to turn your whole home into a digital entertainment storehouse. Share content like music and photos from your network-connected PC, Mac, laptop, external storage device, or any other digital source all over your HDTV and home theater surround system. A USB port on the front allows your to share your home videos or photos on the big screen USB Input Listen to your favorite music or share your home videos or photos on the big screen. Simply connect your iPod, digital camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device. DIGITAL MEDIA PORT The demand for digital audio and video content continues to be strong. Sony's DIGITAL MEDIA PORT (DMP) interface is a proprietary interface that adds networking and connectivity options to your home theater system. Just connect optional accessories (sold separately) which provide the ability to control and power devices while making set up easy and operation simple to use. The DMP will be compatible with various accessories which will include a PC Client ready device, Bluetooth adapter and Audio Docking stations compatible with select Network Walkman and iPod products. Regardless of where you store your music. BRAVIA Sync Compatible Conveniently operate and control other BRAVIA Sync compatible devices--including BRAVIA HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc Players, surround sound systems, Handycam camcorders and Cyber-shot digital still cameras, all with one remote control. Digital Cinema Auto Calibration Ensure you get the best sound experience from your surround sound system with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. Simply place the included microphone where you will be seated and settings are automatically optimized based on the distance, delays and placement of your speakers. Technical Specifications Power Output: 1000W Total (RMS): Center 167W; Surround 167W; Woofer 165W, Front 60W Sound Modes: Auto/Movie/Music/Sports/News/Game Rock S-AIR Included: TA-SA200WR Analog Audio Input(s): 2 (AUDIO TV) Coaxial Audio Input(s): 1 (Sat/Cable) Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s): 1 Composite Video Output(s): 1 D.C.A.C. (Auto Calibration): Yes (Mono Mic.) DIGITAL MEDIA PORT: Yes (1) HDMI™ Connection Output(s): 1 (Upscale to (1080p) for DVD) Optical Audio Input(s): 1(TV) Speaker Terminal: 2 (Front); 1 (Center); 2 (Surround); 1 (Subwoofer) Amplifier Dimensions (Approx.): 17 in × 3-3/8 in × 13-1/4 in (430 mm × 85 mm × 335mm) Amplifier Weight (Approx.): 10 lb 10 oz (4.8 kg) Subwoofer Dimensions (Approx.): 275 x 405 x 275mm Subwoofer Weight (Approx.): 7.5 kg Surround Speaker Dimensions (Approx.): 80 x 225 x 80mm Surround Speaker Weight (Approx.): 0.5 kg Center Speaker Dimensions (Approx.): 295 x 50 x 55mm Center Speaker Weight (Approx.): 0.4 kg Front Speaker Dimensions (Approx.): 80 x 225 x 80mm Front Speaker Weight (Approx.): 0.5 kg

Most helpful customer reviews 139 of 144 people found the following review helpful. Awsome composite system By Common sense This is a really a great Home Theater/BluRay combo unit. I hate clutter and went for it as this would be a single unit for Music, DVD/BluRay and Internet streaming (Netflix etc). Blu-Ray discs with 3-D surround sound are really amazing as I expected, DVD up conversion is great and sound quality of wireless S-AIR rear speaker is as good as wired (beware, they are wireless just with respect to main base/amp unit. The rear speakers have their own receiver unit that requires power plug and is wired to rear speakers. However, it serves my purpose as I don't need to run wires across my living room.). I was apprehensive that I am paying $100 extra and probably compromising on the sound quality just for little compromise of running wires across room. I did not find any compromise on sound quality (and I am quite picky). I did separate my WiFi router away from S-AIR, after reading about the possible cross-interference. That created another logistics problem: I sometimes watch movies on Netflix streamed through Internet and for best quality like to hook up the wire. Keeping router away meant that I ended up running cable across. Netflix streaming quality was awesome with wire and as good I had observed with PS3 (It's just a shade worse than DVD but way better than connecting via computer). The surprise was that WiFi connection worked almost as well as wired. So I ended up getting rid of this wire too. I have Sharp Aquos 52' LED TV and it seamlessly detects sound from this Sony unit whenever I switch to TV or switch on TV. One more tip that I discovered by chance. I have cheap $2, 6 ft generic HDMI cable and ~$10 mediabridge 6 ft and 15 ft (to connect my laptop to use TV as external monitor). While DVD and Blu-Ray disc quality was same on all 3 cables, Netflix streaming quality was way better with 6 ft mediabridge cable than other two. Probably one needs to buy decent quality shortest cable for limited signal/information relay via streaming. And don't believe in the crap that is floating on Internet. I know digital is 0 and 1. However, those morons forget that it's not just one 0 and 1; there is a stream of millions of 0s and 1s getting across. So it matters how many of those are faithfully transmitted. If input is great it does not matter, even crappiest of cable would do. However, if input is limiting, it does seem to make a difference. I did blind test with monstrously overpriced Monster cables and did not find any improvement over Mediabridge; so just the shortest and decent ones would do. I read one user complaining about lack of headphone jack on the system in reviews somewhere. IT EXISTS. Sony actually did one better. It put it on one of the rear speakers so that it's close to your couch. They just did a poor job of highlighting it. Not so detail oriented people might start crying it does not exist after not finding it on the main unit. Finally, I played tons of music from my iPhone using 3.5 mm to RCA connection (this unit can also play iPod/Phone via USB cable; I just had a very good quality 3.5 mm to RCA with me) and quality was good. It also has Pandora and other links that are suppose to become functional in next update. I tried Pandora via iPhone and it was great. I really can't see any problems with the system. Bottom-line: It may not be the system for extreme music lovers who want to push sound quality to ultimate purity and can hear notes that pass through 99% of the people. It is indeed a very good composite unit to hook up with your TV (for improved sound) and watch movies on BluRay/DVD/Netflix and avoid clutter of equipments without compromising on the quality of either of the individual functions. I am not into gaming but Sony should come up with PS3-BluRay-home theater combo too. If I have to find fault, my only disappointment is the unfriendly user manual, hard to navigate Sony website

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Cisco-Linksys WET610N Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter

Move up to the Power of N! The versatile Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band can make a wired Ethernet-enabled device a part of your wireless network. It's optimized for streaming video to reduce glitches. It's ideal for wirelessly sharing music, photos, movies, and other files around the home. Since the Bridge is based on dual-band Wireless-N, it works with any device supporting Wi-Fi standards, and is compatible with Wireless-G, -A, and -B. Connect digital video recorders, set-top boxes or computers to your Wireless-N network. Convert your wired-Ethernet printer, scanner, camera, storage device, notebook, or desktop for wireless connectivity. The Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge works on any platform and under any operating system. Since there are no drivers to load, setup is a snap - configure the network settings through your PC's web browser, then plug it into your device and go. To protect your data and privacy, all wireless transmissions can be encrypted with industrial-strength Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security. Wi-Fi Protected Setup helps make secure connections pushbutton simple. Easy-to-use setup wizard Equipped with one 10/100 auto-crossover (MDI/MDI-X) port Unit Dimensions 5.71 x 4.17 x 2.05 (145 x 106 x 52 mm); Unit Weight 5.61 oz (159 g) Power 12V, 1A Package Contents - Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band; Setup Software and User Guide on CD-ROM; Quick Installation Guide; Network Cable; Power Adapter Minimum Requirements - Device with Ethernet port; Wireless Access Point or Router (802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, or draft 802.11n compliant); Internet Explorer 6, or Firefox 2 or higher for browser-based configuration; PC with CD-ROM drive (for Setup Wizard only); Setup Wizard requires Windows XP, Vista, or Vista 64-bit edition with latest updates; Maximum performance derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual performance can vary, including lower wireless network

Amazon Sales Rank: #762 in Consumer Electronics Brand: Cisco Model: WET610N Platform: Windows Format: CD Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 3.60" h x 6.25" w x 9.75" l, .35 pounds CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.1 GHz Memory: 4GB SDRAM Hard Disk: 320GB Processors: 1 Convert any wired-Ethernet device to speedy Wireless-N Connectivity Optimized for video, so videos look smooth with less frame drops Compatible with any device that supports Wi-Fi standards and also with any operating system Easy setup and powerful security features, including WPA2 and Wi-Fi Protected Setup Measures 5.71 x 4.17 x 2.05 inches and weighs 5.61 ounces; 1-year limited warranty

(see larger image) Connect multiple home theater devices to your wireless network with the power and smooth performance of Dual-Band N Ideal for Easy wireless connectivity Streaming HD video and music Gaming online head-to-head Enjoying online entertainment like Hulu™ and Rhapsody® Connecting multiple home theater or office devices For the ultimate entertainment experience and optimal network performance pair with a Dual Band-N Router like the Linksys E3200 or E4200. Key Features* Converts wired devices to wireless High speed connection (up to 300 Mbps) for fast transfer rates Superior range with multiple antennas Four Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports to connect wired devices Dual-Band designed to avoid interference and maximize throughput Find the perfect Linksys solution for you below. Features High Speed The Linksys WET610N provides fast wireless connectivity for an Ethernet-enabled HDTV, Blu-ray player, game console and more. With transfer rates up to 300 Mbps, you'll enjoy a powerful networking experience for streaming video, sharing photos, or gaming online. Superior Range Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, the Linksys WET610N offers superior performance and range. Multiple MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennas help create a strong, stable link to your router for reliable connectivity of your home theater devices. The Power of Dual-Band Improve your wireless performance with dual-band N (operates at 2.4 or 5 GHz) designed to avoid interference and maximize throughput for smoother and faster video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming. HD/3D Ready Bring the ultimate entertainment experience to your home with high performance HD/3D quality wireless. The Linksys WET610N is ideal for connecting your home theater. Link HDTVs, media players, game consoles, and more to your router and Internet connection. QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers time-sensitive traffic efficiently so you can enjoy smooth video, music streaming, and gaming performance. Push-Button Setup The Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button on your router and bridge is designed to get you setup easily and more securely. Once the wireless connection to your router has been established, simply plug any wired Ethernet device to the bridge and enjoy instant wireless connectivity.** Advanced Security Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders at bay with the latest in WPA2 security to help keep your network protected. Technical Specs Model:Linksys WET610N Technology:Wireless-N Bands:2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Transmit/Receive:2 x 2 Antennas:3 internal Ethernet Ports x Speed:1 x 10/100 Setup:Push-Button Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ Support:24/7 Award winning Online Support Resources, 90 days complimentary assisted support Warranty:1 year hardware limited warranty Minimum System Requirements Wireless: Existing b/g/n wireless router or access point Ethernet Port: Active Ethernet port on device to be connected Web Browser: Internet Explorer 7, Safari 4, or Firefox 3 or higher for optional browser-based configuration HD/3D Video Streaming: Requires a minimum of 100 Mbps transfer speed. Actual performance may vary Package Contents Linksys WET610N Dual-Band N Entertainment Bridge CD-ROM with Documentation Resources Ethernet Cable Power Adapter Package Dimensions 9.625 x 6.25 x 3.25 in Maximum performance derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual performance can vary, including lower wireless network capacity, data throughput rate, range and coverage. Performance depends on many factors, conditions and variables, including distance from the access point, volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, operating system used, mix of wireless products used, interference and other adverse conditions. ** Secure push-button setup works with devices that support Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ like Cisco Linksys E-Series routers and others. Get Connected. Find the Perfect Linksys Solution for you. What would you like to do? Networking Solutions Features Ideal with Extend the wireless range of your existing router RE1000 Wireless-N Range Extender For added coverage in and around your home Fast Ethernet Port Flexible Placement Broad Compatibility Any wireless G or N router Linksys Switches Connect a computer wirelessly AE1200 Wireless-N USB Adapter Upgrade your laptop or PC to Wireless-N 300 Mbps Extended Range Wireless-N routers like the Linksys E-Series AE2500 Dual-Band N USB Adapter Upgrade your laptop or PC to Dual-Band N 300 Mbps Dual-band Superior Range Dual-Band N routers like the Linksys E2500 - E4200 Connect office or entertainment devices wirelessly WET610N Dual-Band N Entertainment Bridge Connect a TV, media player, or game console and enjoy smooth media streaming and gaming 300 Mbps Fast Ethernet port Dual-band Superior Range Dual-Band N routers like the Linksys E2500 - E4200 Linksys Switches WES610N 4-Port Dual-Band N Entertainment Bridge Connect a whole home theater and enjoy smooth media streaming and gaming 300 Mbps 4 Fast Ethernet ports Dual-band Superior Range Connect multiple wired devices SE1500 Ethernet Switch For reliable wired connectivity 100 Mbps speed 5 Fast Ethernet ports Any wired or wireless router Linksys Range Extender or Bridges SE2800 Gigabit Switches

Most helpful customer reviews 109 of 116 people found the following review helpful. Excellent for Converting Wired To Wireless By Book Reviews Weekly I bought the WET610N for my Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-Ray Player. My options were either wired, which I didn't want to do, or buy a proprietary dongle from Samsung. I chose the option that Samsung did not mention - I bought the WET610N! The unit was easy to setup, and the instructions were clear. I've never been fond of using Linksys CD's to setup this kind of equipment, but I have to say it was painless and quick compared to some others I've seen. The value of this unit is simply that it will work with ANYTHING that wants a "wired" network connection. So, it doesn't matter if it's a video game system, a DVR type device, or as in this case a blu-ray DVD Player. For this reason, the unit is a great value and will be in use for a long time, even when the current equipment I am using it with now is long gone. 58 of 61 people found the following review helpful. Quick setup - up in 10 minutes By E. Linder Update 10/31/10: This product has worked *flawlessly* for a year straight! Highly recommended without reservation! Update 10/2/09: New firmware update available from Linksys 8/31/09 (I went from 1.0.01 to 1.0.03 today). After applying new firmware, the reported signal strength increased significantly. So did the consistency and reliability of pings (previously would vary between 2ms and 410 ms as well as skip an occasional ping - now consistently below 5 ms!). I would recommend this product, but be sure to be running firmware 1.0.0.03. This update may address some (but not all) of the issues that previous reviewers experienced. Original review: Quick shipment from Amazon. As much as I dread Setup wizards, I used the wizard supplied on the CD-ROM, which I ran from my laptop, which is connected wirelessly via the wireless router. Connected bridge to router with the supplied straight-through Ethernet cable. The wizard quickly detected available wireless networks (I selected mine - not my neighbors'). Asked me for passphrase (it knew I use WPA2 encryption) for router (Linksys WRT54G), waited a bit, then wizard told me to disconnect bridge from router and then connect the bridge to my remote device (in my case - a home-theater-in-a-box) (HTIB) with an wired ethernet connection. A bit later, wizard announced setup finished. Instantly able to watch streaming Netflix and listen to Pandora on the HTIB. Prior to running wizard, I added the MAC address of the bridge (it's on the underside of the unit) to the allowed list of "PCs") on my router's list of allowed MAC addresses. Second, I ensured that I had a sufficient range of DHCP addresses dispensed by the DHCP server on my router (total of 3 - one for the laptop, one for the wireless printer, and now added a third for this bridge). Third, I had my router passphrase readily available to supply to the wizard. I think that since I was well prepared, the setup was flawless and quick. I totally understand why wizards are used - they're for novices to easily set up their stuff. In this case, I think it took the wizard less time to set up the device than it would have if I were to have chosen to set up the bridge manually (which is an undocumented option). A novice would have a struggle with a manual setup, I'm sure. Signal strength on the bridge indicates to be a bit weak for business use, but for home use, it's working great for my sole application. One could certainly add more devices on the bridge side by connecting the bridge to a switch to provide additional Ethernet ports. Of course, the bridge will pass DHCP info to any device connected to any such switch. And of course, no address needed for a(n) (unmanaged) switch. The only thing I'm uncertain about is this product's longevity. I did have an early Linksys WRT54G totally fail on me, but I'm hoping that having placed my current one on a UPS, this won't happen again. I have confidence in current