Blaupunkt Melbourne SD27 Digital media receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After trying 2 different stereos from Roadmaster/VR3 and being unhappy with both of them, I finally bought this Blaupunkt SD27 unit. I am so happy with it I could cry...sniff!
I originally stayed away from this unit due to its lack of a CD player. After thinking about it I realized that I didn't even need one! Who needs CD's bouncing around the floor of your car, getting scratched, skipping, taking up space? I can fit maybe 10 CD's in my glove compartment, however, with a single postage stamp sized 2GB SD card I can fit more than twice that amount on one tiny chip! Much more if I lower the bit rate of my MP3s. I can listen to music all day without changing the card once! And I don't have to skip the songs I don't like, unlike with a CD. I simply don't put them on the card!
Of course there is an Auxiliary input for MP3 players, or any other device with audio output. Ipod support is available through an add-on cable, as is Bluetooth.
So finally I picked this stereo up at Fry's for $129. Easy installation. For a low price unit this baby packs quite a punch! It sounds clean even at very loud volumes. My speakers are a bit above average for being stock and they sound great!
There are standard bass and treble controls, but it doesn't stop there. You can also fine tune these settings, as well as an additional mid-range setting if you dig into the menu a little bit. Unlike a previous reviewer, I had no problem navigating through the menu system. The user manual has very clear instructions.
You can adjust the frequency range and gain of your bass, mid, and treble settings to get just the sound you want. It's a bit like a parametric EQ, for those who are familiar with the term. Very sweet! After playing with these settings I had achieved even better sound. Crisp highs and kickin lows. Very good sound for not having a separate amp/EQ installed in the car.
Even more, your EQ settings are separate for the radio, Auxiliary, and SD cards. They are saved separately! Coolness!
To comment on what other reviewers have said:
- The buttons are not hard to push(?).
- The menu system is easy to navigate. After playing with it for 20 minutes I can now do anything I want without referring to the manual.
- Not sure about the 12/24 hour clock issue. I just set mine to 24 anyways, so it isn't a problem for me.
- I have come across no problems with my various SD cards. I am using both Transcend brand, as well as the more expensive SanDisk cards. No "lag", no problems. Perfect.
The user manual states that you can have 1,500 files per directory on an SD card, which seems to mean there is no overall limit on the total amount of tracks you can have. I don't know if there is a limit on SD card size either, I am using 2GB cards.
I recommend using separate directories unless you want to scan through 500 songs to get to what you want. With this unit you can search by folder name, then enter that folder and search though the song list. The VR3 unit with Bluetooth did not have folder search capability, although the manual said it did. What a nightmare!
You can manually adjust the illumination of the display for day and night use. I assume turning on the headlights switches it from one to the other, I haven't used it yet at night. The dimmer switch in my car seems to have no affect on the illumination.
I didn't find many stereos with SD card support. Most offer USB instead. I don't like the idea of a USB thumb drive or cable hanging out of my stereo waiting for someone (like me) to accidentally hit it and break it. SD is the way to go.
If you are thinking about buying a VR3 "brand" unit of any kind, Don't. They don't sound as good, they are full of bugs, and they don't do what the advertisements claim. Tech support is nonexistent as well. I tried 2 different units and suffered the consequences. Don't do it...by this Blaupunkt instead.
I HIGHLY recommend the Melbourne SD27 stereo! At this price range it is the best you can do. I am 100% satisfied!!!

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Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Edit 2/2/10: After several months of use, I am revising my review to give this radio 4 stars. I still think it is the best out there today, but am subtracting a star to account for some poor design flaws on it with the way they integrate with the Bluetooth and Sirius units.
The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD is a touch-screen Double DIN aftermarket car stereo. It has a 5.8" full color widescreen face, front auxiliary port for connecting an IPod or other device, a front USB port for connecting a USB flash drive, and it can play DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, DivX, MP3, WMA and AAC files. The Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with Widescreen Display is the same exact radio, except it adds a bigger screen (7") by removing the physical buttons to the side, and it adds a subwoofer preamp output.

INSTALLATION AND DVD BYPASS: Double DIN means that it is roughly twice the size of a conventional car stereo, so before ordering, you need to make sure it will fit in your car. The best way to do this is to go to Crutchfield's web site and determine if it will work on your vehicle. The unit itself comes with the receiver, mounting screws, manual, a stylus pen, front mounting cover, and a power cable. I found it fairly easy to install. The power cable it comes with just has bare wires coming out of it. In addition to the radio, you will want to buy a mounting harness and mounting bracket for your vehicle. The harness looks just like the one that comes with the stereo, but it is designed to clip into the factory harness that's in your vehicle, to make it easy to remove the stereo. If you don't have one, you'll have to connect all of the wires by hand, and disconnect each one to remove. The mounting bracket is designed to make sure you radio fits correctly in your specific vehicle. I purchased both the harness and bracket from Crutchfield. My only problem with installation, is that it comes with a long green wire that is supposed to be connected to your emergency brake wire. This is necessary, because the unit has a safety feature that requires the emergency brake to be applied in order to play DVDs. My emergency brake wire was extremely hard to get to, and once I was able to finally remove the center console and find it, it was buried and almost impossible to access. I don't suggest doing this, but if you have the same problem and want to get around this issue, or if you want to be able to watch DVDs without having to engage the brake, then you need to connect this wire to an auto relay switch. Go to Radio Shack and buy a momentary push button switch, part number 275-1548. Cut the green wire coming out of the radio harness from the receiver, close to the end of it, maybe 5 inches away from that red clip. Strip the wire, and run it through one of the holes on the relay switch. You can solder it or just wrap it with electrical tape. Buy a standard 16 gauge wire from Radio Shack and connect it to the other hole on the switch, then connect the other end of it to a grounded connection on your vehicle. I just wrapped mine around one of the mounting screws for the radio. I stuffed this wire out of site under the dash and pull it out when I need it. Alternatively, you can just cut the green wire directly in half, and use the half you cut instead of having to buy more wire at Radio Shack, but I wanted an extra long wire in case I ever want to move it. Now, when you play a DVD, the warning screen will come on. Just press the button on the switch and it will go away, since it tricks the receiver into thinking you have engaged the parking brake. Be sure to check with your local laws, as having the DVD player on while driving or bypassing this may be illegal in your area. It may also void insurance claims. I definitely do not recommend ever watching a DVD while driving.
FORM FACTOR: The radio itself is beautiful. It fit flush with my dash and looks gorgeous. There are only a few buttons on the left hand side, and I didn't even realize they were buttons until I looked at them closely. They control volume, forward/backward, source, mute, and power. I like having these physical buttons, especially for volume and mute. If I get a phone call or need to hear something, I want to be able to instantly mute the radio without having to fool around with a touchscreen. It's very nice to have a radio that doesn't have 15 buttons all over it and looks cluttered. Customization is easy with the radio. You can select from several different colors, which will change the LED colors on these physical buttons and on the touchscreen menu buttons, so that it matches your car's LED colors. You can also choose from seven factory background screens, three of which are animated videos. The animation on the videos is very subtle and doesn't distract you. Plus, when you change the LED color, it actually changes the color of the background videos to match it, which is really cool. If you don't like these, you can use your own image from a CDR or USB drive. The screen contains a dimmer option, so when you turn on your lights, it automatically dims. This is pretty nice, but can also be annoying. I like to use my lights during the day, and while the screen is still readable, it can be hard to see. Fortunately, you can completely adjust the dimmer options through the settings.
TOUCHSCREEN: The touchscreen is very easy to navigate and done very well. The menu system is very intuitive and set up a lot like a computer. There is a back button and an escape button to get you through the menus. Seeking through a song can be done in three ways. You can hold down the physical forward/backward buttons on the unit, you can do the same with the touchscreen forward/backward buttons, or you can use your finger to slide a progress bar back and forth, the same as you would do with a video file on your computer or with an IPod. This is great because a 30 minute song can start, and I can just press the end of the progress bar with my finger and it will immediately skip to the end of the song (or whatever position I press on the bar). From what I can tell, it will scroll exactly like a computer and stop at the exact position you touch. A lot of touchscreens would have "segments" or 5-10 seconds, and stop on whichever segment you came close to. But with the AVH-P3100, it is segmented into 2 second increments, so you can have much more accurate scrolling. This is the only instance where I can see the stylus being of any use, but I have fairly large fingers and don't have any problem with the scroll bar. My main gripe with the touchscreen navigation, is with the up/down scrolling. This is used when navigating radio/satellite stations, song tracks on a CD, or file folders on a USB/IPod. There is no page up/down feature, so if five folders are displayed and you press the down arrow on the scroll bar, or if you press anywhere below the current position on the scroll bar, it will move the list down by one, instead of down by five. This is a major oversight in my opinion, and will affect the way you setup your folders. I have one folder on my USB with 80 subfolders. That means if I want to scroll through every folder in the list, I have to press the down button 75 times. Now you can put your finger on it and simply drag the arrow down to move quickly, but it goes kind of fast, and paging through the list would be so much more convenient. Also, since it only displays five lines at a time, it means you have to scroll one time to view all six of your radio presets.
USB: USB is the main reason I purchased this radio, and works well, with a few faults. First, it takes about 10 seconds when I start the car or select the USB source, for it to "read format." This is possibly because I am using a 8Gb drive with over 1000 songs on it, so it's acceptable to me. My main problem with the USB feature, is the way it organizes the folders. They do not appear alphabetically. I am not sure what method it uses, but like a lot of MP3 audio devices, it just seems to throw them up in the folder list in whatever order it wants. It will use the same order every time, but you can't trick it by copying a folder you want to appear at the top first, or adding "01, 02, 03, etc" in front of your folders/file names." There is probably a workaround for this, but I have no idea what it is. I think it would make more sense if it just listed the folders alphabetically. It does read ID3 information very well, however it cuts off anything after a certain character limit. It would be nice if it scrolled sideways through long song titles/artists to show you the full ID3 information, but for about 95% of people's music, this won't be a problem, and for the other 5% you should have enough of the title to figure out what it is. However if you don't have ID3 tags on your music, it can be a problem. For example, if you have a folder with 10 songs in it labeled "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Greatest Hits - Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," and there are no ID3 tags, it is only going to display the first part of the filename until it reaches the character limit. So your list on the screen will have 10 songs on it that all say something like "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fr." Additionally, the USB drive is going to stick out 3" or so from the unit, so unless you remove it every time, you have to be aware of it and careful not to break it off. It doesn't bother me at all though. (Edit - I recently purchased elago Mobile Nano II USB 2.0 microSDHC Flash Memory Card Reader (Black) for it, which only sticks out about 3mm from the unit and is awesome. Get this and a ...Read more›

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The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD in-dash double-DIN DVD multimedia AV receiver features a 5.8-inch widescreen display and plays back DVD video, DivX, and MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC. It also features iPod direct control (CD-IU50V required) and is Bluetooth-adapter ready (CD-BTB200 required).
Now Playing in a Dash Near You This is what drive-in movies were supposed to be. Audio/video players improve on CD players by adding a large touchscreen. With features like touch-slide control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.

I Can See Clearly Now The 5.8-inch widescreen touchscreen on the AVH-P3100DVD allows you to enjoy all of your music and videos in style. Sick of having to search through your music song by song? Now you can scroll through your music at the touch of a finger.

iPod Made Easy Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU50V iPod cable, and you're ready to rock and roll. Touch-slide scrolling, alphabetical high-speed search, album art, and improved link search make it easy to find your music.

Bring Your Music to Life Hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA, and AAC files. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer can make your music sound close to CD quality.

Smooth Operator Controlling your movies and music has never been easier. With a smooth swipe of your finger on the touch-panel display, you can fast forward and rewind audio/video content. (Note: The touch-slide fast forward/rewind function is not available on iPod.)

Now it's Personal Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illuminations to match your car's interior lighting, color, and design. You even can set your favorite JPEG file as wallpaper. Parked with no place to go? Now you can enjoy a slideshow of your photos on a CD or USB device.

Get the Blues Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth adapter and your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers, which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call. (Note: CD-BTB200 adapter is required.)

Other Features The AVH-P3100DVD also includes features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide both superior sound quality and easy operation, such as:

built-in AUX input for your media devices;
two RCA high-Volt pre-outs for adding external amps and speakers;
built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion, and efficient power handling; and
supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing to ensure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Brand New Tview D72tsb 7" Double Din Touch Screen In-dash Dvd, Cd, Mp3 Monitor with Usb, and Sd Card Inputs, Rsd, Am, Fm Radio Tuner, and Complete Bluetooth Integration Built In Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I found it great. It didn't fill what I expect from it but it's OK. It links my Blackberry for calls and music great but I don't like that when I receive a message while I am hearing music from my Blackberry it stops the music and I have to play again as the first time. Another complaint is that screen can be turned off just from "radio"; so, when I am using another application at night, I can't turn it off easily while driving... ....but, anyway, it is a good stereo; looks good, sounds good and, for the price, I find it acceptable.
Of course, you must know that I am a normal driver who doesn't know so much about bass, treble, equalizers, etc... ...I just feel a good sound.
You may try it but remember "it is ok for the price".
Carlos

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Kenwood Kvt-516 7-Inch In-Dash Navigation Ready DVD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Some issues with this unit but overall it functions pretty well.
CONS
1 - Sub Woofer control keeps turning off, for no apparent reason. The memory seems to not want to keep in the unit. Every once in a while the sub and audio controls will be greyed out and cannot be turned on.
2 - The angle of the monitor can be set, however the unit never remebers the last position and resets every time I turn it on.
3 - Pretty difficult to customize, the unit has 9 or so accessories that can be attached but you cannot disable the buttons if you dont have these devices so basically it goes to a blank screen, ie: Navigation bluetooth controls.
5 - USB must be USB 1 because it takes a long time to read the flash drive.
6 - Ipod classic and 1st Generation Iphone seem to freeze when using the Ipod controls.
7 - The unit shut off errantly a few times at the beginning but has'nt after the first week. This may have been because of a power wire that was not adequate. After changing to a larger power wire it seems to have resolved this problem.
8 - Hard to navigate the DVD menus unless you have the remote.
Pros
1 - Awesome picture for the DVD, playback is flawless.
2 - Sound quality is great, 0 distortion.
3 - Sub and EQ controls rival $300 units with the same functinality.
4 - Geat buy for the money since this same unit sells for $750 at Best Buy.

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Complete Sirius Satellite Radio System for Satellite Ready Kenwood Receivers KCA-SR50 + SCC1 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The description does NOT list the Kenwood DDX616 as needing the Kenwood CA-SR20V cable, but you DO. Now I have to order the damned extra cable and have to wait for it to arrive before I can enjoy my Sirius.

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Kenwood KCA-iP200 - iPod data cable - Apple Dock connector (M) - 4 pin USB Type A, mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm (M) Review

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(More customer reviews)It does just what it's supposed to do, connect the ipod to the Kenwood head unit...no problems at all...so far

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HP KD031AA#ABA Bluetooth Pendant Headphone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a good price and the concept is well thought out. The execution is lacking in one huge way.
First of all, it is a great idea to have the bluetooth audio broadcaster be able to plug into ANY audio jack. Very universal and works with any audio device where you can plug headphones.
The bluetooth receiver is a decently small size and any headphones - in my case my iPod earbuds, plug nicely. I used it today running on the treadmill and the volume was excruciatingly low even when turned all the way up. I could not hear most of the audio while running in the gym.
This totally defeats the purpose. You cannot increase the audio to be able to hear dialogue/lyrics. To get an idea of how low the sound is... the maximum volume the bluetooth receiver is capable of receiving is just slightly above 1/2 the max volume on the iPhone 3G.
(Note: my iPhone was on MAX volume output and was only broadcasting at about the 1/2 max level.)


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Garmin nüvi 1260T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic (Factory Refurbished) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this simply because it was on sale, and couldn't be happier with it! It has features included on my friend's GPS that he paid more than $400 for. Great buy for people looking for a nice GPS without paying too much. The EcoRoute feature is great, and it's already helped me save gas!

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This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished generally means that the unit has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the navigator back to like new conditions.
Amazon.com Product DescriptionThe nuvi 1260T GPS navigator with Bluetooth and included Traffic Receiver features an ultra-slim design that fits easily in your pocket (approximately 25% thinner than previous models), enhanced user interface, ecoRoute, public transit mode, and text-to-speech. The nuvi 1200 series also are the first nuvi devices to offer pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps, which are available for select tourist destinations in North America and Europe and can easily be downloaded directly to the nuvi. The nuvi's enhanced user interface features improved graphics and a new slide control for menu operation, while ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers money and fuel. Also, Garmin's new public transit mode allows you to navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems. Pre-loaded with City Navigator North America NT.

Thin New Design The nuvi units are just over a half-inch thick and weigh only 4 ounces, which means they'll fit easily into your pocket and can be taken just about anywhere.
Bluetooth Wireless Technology The 1260T enables calling with a compatible phone, giving you a completely hands-free mobile phone experience. Broadcasts navigation and phone calls through your car stereo.
NAVTEQ Traffic Receiver Included The included traffic receiver provides North America traffic information to your 1260T. Using this data, your device alerts you to local traffic tie-ups and displays current traffic levels. The receiver also acts as an in-vehicle power charger. Traffic provided by NAVTEQ Traffic. Watch informational video
Comprehensive, reliable nationwide coverage
Accurate traffic flow speeds
Unplanned incidents such as accidents and stalled vehicles
Planned incidents such as road construction and closures
Information about special and sports events and holidays that may affect traffic

See More With nuvi 1260T's display, you'll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos, and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, bright 3.5-inch diagonal color display with white backlight is easy to read--from any direction.
Easy-to-Use Touchscreen Interface One of Garmin's core beliefs is to continually enhance the simplicity of the user experience. The nuvi on-screen menus are logically arranged, with clearly labeled, colorful icons, making it easy to enter data and get to the information you need quickly.
Navigate with Ease nuvi 1260T comes ready to go right out of the box, with pre-loaded City Navigator North America NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs), such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs, and more, with map data provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. Enter a destination on the touchscreen, and nuvi takes you there with 2-D or 3-D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Text to speech enhances standard sat-nav voice guidance by speaking the names of places and roads. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. In addition, nuvi 1260T accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras, and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.
Travel North America With nearly 6 million points of interest and detailed road coverage for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, City Navigator North America NT delivers all the data you need to navigate North America.
Displays nearly 6 million points of interest--hotels, restaurants, parking, entertainment, fuel, shopping, and more.
Includes highways, interstates, business, and residential roads in metropolitan and rural areas.
Includes such detailed information as turn restrictions, roundabout guidance, speed categories, and other navigation features.
Gives turn-by-turn directions on your compatible Garmin device.
Includes postal code support for Canada.
Contains traffic data for compatible Garmin devices that use traffic receivers.
Enhances pronunciation data for compatible Garmin devices that speak street names (example: "Turn right on Main Street").

Pedestrian Navigation With the Public Transit feature, you can navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems with optional CityXplorer content. Downloadable CityXplorer data and city guides are available for purchase and download from garmin.com for many cities.
Where Am I? Keep track of yourself and your car with nuvi 1260T. Just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address, and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. The nuvi 1260T even remembers where you parked. It automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windshield mount, so you can navigate with nuvi on foot and find your way back to your vehicle. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots, such as amusement parks, stadiums, and malls.
HotFix Satellite Prediction Garmin's HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your nuvi remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to three days after the device was last turned off.
ecoRoute With this feature, drivers can view suggestions for fuel-efficient navigation, conserving both money and fuel:
Save Gas and Money--Now more than ever, we're all looking for ways to conserve both money and fuel. Whether we're taking fewer trips or carpooling with family and friends, saving resources is a top priority. It was that thinking that led to the creation of ecoRoute--Garmin's free software update for compatible nuvi products that allows you to find more fuel-efficient routes when navigating and even track their fuel usage. With ecoRoute, you may be able to save gas and money by adopting smarter driving habits.
Select Fuel-efficient Routes--With ecoRoute, you have a "less fuel" option as a routing preference. When selected, nuvi will determine if more fuel-efficient routes exist based upon road speed data and vehicle acceleration data for a given route.
Get Fuel and Mileage Reports--Through ecoRoute's Fuel Report and Mileage Report, you can focus on your habits even when you're not behind the wheel. Fuel Report tracks fuel usage over time, and Mileage Report monitors mileage and fuel usage on a per-trip basis. In addition, Mileage Report makes it easy for business travelers to keep track of distance traveled for company reimbursements. You'll have a detailed report for each trip and the miles driven. You also can customize your nuvi by entering your car's fuel economy and the current price of gas.

MSN Direct Compatible Add the GDB 55 receiver for MSN Direct. With dynamic content from MSN Direct, you can avoid traffic backups when you travel with your compatible Garmin device. MSN Direct broadcasts traffic data to your GPS navigator so you can find the best route through traffic, check traffic flow, and receive accident warnings.
Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos Using Garmin's Connect Photos Web site, you can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google's Panoramio photo-sharing community and download them to the nuvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
Easy-to-use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
View photos in Google Earth.
Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, and Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

Take It with You The nuvi 1260T sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot.
Additional Features
Speed limit indicator--unit displays speed limits for most major roads
DEM maps show you shaded terrain contours at zoom levels of five miles and above.
Auto time zone automatically adjusts your time zone while navigating.
Trip computer records mileage, max speed, total time, and more.
Built-in travel kit includes such features as picture viewer, world clock, currency and measurement converters, and calculator.
microSD memory card expansion slot allows for optional mapping and data storage.
Includes Garmin Lock anti-theft feature.
Configurable vehicle icons allows users to select fun, customized car-shaped icons; download additional choices from www.garmingarage.com.
Offers a 3-D mapping perspective or 2-D overhead view.
Unit dimensions: 3.7 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches (W x H x D); Weight: 4 ounces
Built-in lithium-ion battery lasts up to four hours, depending on usage.
Includes sturdy suction cup mount that allows for easy adjustment and quick release.
Simplified PC connectivity, using USB mass storage, access either the microSD card slot or the unit's internal memory directly from your PC desktop.
POI loader program lets you set up proximity alerts for school zones, create custom POIs, and more.


What's in the Box nuvi 1260T preloaded with City Navigator North America NT, vehicle suction cup mount, FM traffic receiver/vehicle power cable, USB cable, dashboard disc, quick start manual
Which nuvi is Best for You?Note: All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
Device

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Sony MEXBT5100 CD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off, I'd like to say this is one the most stylish single-din head units I've seen. Not only does it look cool but it sounds great too. This receiver really enhances my speakers in comparison to my factory Infinity unit.
The main reason I purchased this player is because I have a NWZ-A829 Sony Walkman player, which supports bluetooth and A2DP audio streaming, so the main focus of this review is going to be on this functionality.
Something about being able to stream 16GB worth of music wireless is very appealing to me. Now of course streaming music through bluetooth is going to require some compression of the audio, but the A829 walkman has a High-quality streaming option which to me sounds better than satellite radio. I'd say it the sound quality is around or slightly better than a 128kbps bitrate .mp3 file, which is much better than I was expecting. You have the option to switch through songs on either the walkman/cell phone or you can hit the >> button on the player to navigate through songs, although from what I've seen it does not display the id3 tag info on the screen.
I have not tried the bluetooth call settings but from what I've read on the BT-5000 model, it comes in good but the microphone transmits your voice sounding a little like you're talking through a tin can.
Aside from all that, the MEX-BT5100 is full of options like preset and custom EQ settings, an AUX input for Satellite radio or a mp3 player in case it does not have the A2DP(bluetooth audio streaming). Also, the radio tuner finds stations almost instantly when you hit the >> button, I pick up way more stations than I used to and they come in much better too.

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With safety and convenience at the fore front, the Sony MEXBT5100 offers full connectivity to your Bluetooth cell phone providing hands-free talking, caller ID, dialing from the head unit and audio streaming from any Bluetooth MP3 device (using A2DP transferring).
Take Your Calls Over Your Car Speakers The Sony MEXBT5100 has Bluetooth wireless technology for simple hands-free phone calls and audio streaming (with a Bluetooth compatible phone).This means you can now make and receive calls through you car's speaker system--letting you keep your hands on the wheel instead of your cell phone. If you happen to be listening to music when a call comes in, the Sony MEXBT5100 will automatically mute the song so you can take your call. You can also pair the stereo with up to six cell phones and six music players.
Bluetooth Bluetooth technology is how mobile phones, computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) can be easily interconnected.
Xplod Power So, just how much power is enough? As much as possible! Rear/Sub Selectable Preout w/LPF with a preamp output that can be switched from a full-range output to a sub out with a low-pass crossover and an independent level control.
Key Features Inlcude
Flip-down face with Multi-Line Display and easy-to-use Joystick Interface
Bluetooth Hands-free and Audio Streaming Functionality
HFP, OPP, A2DP, and AVRCP Profile Support
SAT Radio, HD Radio, and iPod Control Ready
Front, Rear and Sub preouts w/ LPF
52W x 4 High Power
BBE MP, EQ3 Parametric and DSO2
Supplied wireless card remote (RM-X301)

What's in the Box Sony MEXBT5100 CD Receiver, manual

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Alpine CDE124SXM CD MP3/WMA/SiriusXM Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Be careful this is NOT!! a sirius receiver. If you look for sirius channels or if you want to transfer a lifetime sirius account. It is ONLY a xm receiver.

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Alpine ALP-KCE-236B IPOD CABLE, TO MINI PIN Review

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(More customer reviews)If you know what your purchasing than this should work in your unit. So I know what I'm purchasing and it works great!

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JVC KD-AVX11 DVD/CD Receiver with 2.7-Inch Monitor and iPod/Bluetooth/Satellite Ready Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this JVC KD-AVX11 for about 1-1/2 years. It rocks. I picked up the backup camera accessory kit. Let me start by saying, the screen is short from being too small, it is large enough to see all the details in movies and music videos. The bluetooth phone works great and its microphone is very good. The backup camera is cystal clear. I had one of those wireless ones before, this one blows them away. Even at night it is bright and clear. The Ipod connector is okay. The only problem with it is that you can't see more than one song at a time on the dispay. But what is amazing is the usb port. Connect a 20 gig usb drive with as many songs as you want and it will show up on the display in groups of 6-8 songs. Easly to scroll and pick songs. The only disadavantage is that if you have too much songs (more than 10 gigs)then it will take about 20 seconds to read the drive. Also, videos can be watched from your usb drive too. You will have to have a separate usb drive for video (cant read multiple media - music is dominant media). Hope this review help you.

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JVC's KD-AVX11 is a great way to get mobile video in a one-DIN space, along with a host of other cutting edge features. Take your CDs/DVDs, MP3/WMA/WAV files, DivX movies, and JPEGs on the road. Easily add support for Bluetooth wireless, SAT radio, steering wheel remotes, and direct control of your iPod. The KD-AVX11 starts out big, and lets you go bigger.

Detachable Control Panel At the heart of the KD-AVX11 is its motorized, detachable control panel. It's where you'll find the built-in 2.7-Inch LCD. With 560 x 220 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, it's a great way to enjoy video and images, and you can select from several different wallpapers to get the look you like.
CD and DVD Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs or watch some video on DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or VCDs. Use the gold-plated video output terminals to send video to a passenger screen.
AM/FM Radio The KD-AVX11 features an AM/FM radio with standards like automatic presetting. You can also add SAT radio with additional accessories.
GIGA MP3 MULTI--Play MP3, WMA, and WAV Files Burned on DVD The KD-AVX11 features GIGA MP3 MULTI, which plays MP3, WMA, or WAV files burned on DVD. With MP3 and WMA files, the 4.7GB capacity of a DVD can store up to 2,500 songs on a single disc--equal to 250 pre-recorded CDs. If you want even more superior sound quality, WAV files can be burned onto a DVD. WAV is an uncompressed PC music file format that delivers CD-quality sound. A single DVD disc can store 100 WAV files--equal to 10 pre-recorded CDs. Now you can enjoy non-stop entertainment with CD-quality sound, without an additional CD changer.
Bluetooth Ready Bluetooth Wireless Technology is available with an optional adapter (KS-BTA200) for the KD-AVX11. A maximum of five compatible mobile phones can be registered for hands-free calling. With voice-recognition mobile phones, you can dial by just saying the name in your phone book. The wireless functions work even if your mobile phone is tucked away in your bag or pocket. You can also stream music from a compatible digital audio player, for listening on your car stereo.
DivX Video Files The KD-AVX11 system is a DivX Ultra Certified product, and can play PC-created DivX� video files on a DivX� can fit up to 10 movies onto 1 DVD, or 1 movie onto 1 CD, without sacrificing picture quality.
Ready for iPod You can listen to iPod music with an optional KS-PD100 adapter. The iPod can be controlled from the head unit, and song information is displayed with the same categories and layers as an iPod.
MPEG 1/MPEG 2 Playback Play MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 video files burned on DVD or CD, TV programs recorded from a PC, or personal footage from digital camcorders, without the hassles of authoring or decoding.
JPEG Pictures JPEG digital still photos can be displayed on their own or as slideshows.
Setup/Control With the Multi-Functional Monitor You can use the built-in monitor to set the system's parameters (EQ, balance, fader, etc.). Operation is easy with user-friendly interface and controls. Searching through music folders with GIGA MP3 MULTI is also a snap.
Expandability With its 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, the KD-AVX11 packs a lot of punch. But if you need more, three sets of preamp outputs (front, rear, and sub) are included.
A/V Input Connect external devices like video game systems with the A/V input.
What's in the Box JVC KD-AVX11 DVD/CD Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse 96983 (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I installed this keyboard on a computer running Windows 7. No problems with installation, in fact, I did not need the driver disk - Windows found the drivers automatically. The keyboard and mouse also did an automatic connection to the USB receiver. If this doesn't happen, there is a connect button on the keyboard to help facilitate the connection. Even though Windows will find and install the drivers automatically, I would recommend using the installation disk as there are additional features beyond the device drivers.
Inside the box is a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a USB receiver, batteries for both the mouse and keyboard, and the driver disk.
The keyboard is about 18" wide by 5½" deep by ¾" tall.
After installation, I unplugged my original keyboard, a traditional Microsoft one. I am currently typing on the Verbatim keyboard. I also have a Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet and have found no hardware conflicts.
I have some customer images to show how it compares visually next to a traditional keyboard and mouse.
Here's what I like and don't like about the Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard:
PROS:
It has a nice weight to it so it will not slide around on a desk too easily.
The keys are nicely responsive. They are smooth and spaced a little apart making it easier to hit the key you want and not the one next to it. Other keyboards have the keys so large with no gaps so that it is easy to hit multiple keys in one stroke.
It is small, not so much in width but in depth. My traditional keyboard is two inches more in depth.
It takes up less desk space and has no cord to get in the way.
The finish is shiny black and smooth, as is the mouse.
The mouse is much shorter in height than my Microsoft mouse. It has a wheel and two buttons.
CONS:
It does not have a feature to raise the board on more of an angle, although as of now, this is not a huge issue. I know that I like my Microsoft keyboard to be on the biggest angle by using the flip out legs.
It does not have a couple of the extra keys that the Microsoft keyboard has like zoom in and zoom out, and some of the shortcuts for opening email etc. However, I do not use these so again, it depends on the way you use your keyboard.Overall, I really like the feel of typing on this keyboard. I would say that between the responsiveness and touch of the keys and the clutter free wireless feature, this is a good buy.
I have to add that after using this for a number of days, I've increased my original review from 4 stars to 5. I really like the way the keys react on the keyboard. They have a really solid feel and I make less typing mistakes than with my old keyboard.


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If you're looking for a keyboard that saves space, try Verbatim's Wireless Slim Keyboard & Mouse. Designed with a piano black finish, this keyboard features low profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel when typing. This ultra-slim keyboard offers 2.4 Ghz wireless communication - that means no annoying delays in what you type and what you see on-screen and no cord clutter. If you're in to music, the media console lets you control your favorite tunes directly from the keyboard. With its slim design and a wireless mouse, this keyboard is a perfect space-saver. Package includes: Keyboard, Mouse, Receiver, 2 x AA Batteries, 2 x AAA Batteries, Software CD, Quick Start Guide

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Adesso 2.4 GHZ WIRELESS SLIMTOUCH TOUCHPAD MINI KEYBOARD SILVER W/BLACK KEYS ( WKB-4000US ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This unit will deliver silky smooth operation consistently if you follow these tips.
1. Don't forget to hit a key twice (recommend SHIFT) to wake it up.
2. If you are dropping keys or have choppy mouse movements:
A. Try swapping with known good batteries.
B. Reposition the USB adapter. I got much better range by using an USB extension cable to relocate the adapter. Just moving the adapter six inches away from the computer case made all the difference. It eliminated keyboard dead zones.
C. Avoid wireless conflicts between the keyboard and wireless router by locking your router to a different wireless channel. Try channel 11. I found lower channels would conflict with the unit. Conflict issue is indicated by choppy mouse movements coinciding with wireless activity. Possibly wireless phones or microwaves could interfere too.
D. Switch wireless router's operating modes away from 802.11b. Try 802.11g-only or 802.11n-only if possible. I was able to more channels wireless router channels when I changed modes.
E. If shortcut keys ( Alt- ) aren't working, it's because num-lock is on. I prefer to set the BIOS to turn off num-lock when booting.
F. 802.11 wireless activity will interfere with operation. Look for ways to reduce 802.11 activity.
G. Best to have a clear line of sight between keyboard and USB adapter. A couch's back or a body can greatly weaken the signal.
3. If the unit is dead, you may have accidentally pushed the USB adapter's tiny "sw" button. It's used to pair with your keyboard. Re-pair by pushing sw again and pressing keyboard's FN key within 15 seconds.
Thanks to the myriad of reviews, product works exactly as expected. Yes, it works well with Vista without drivers. Yes, it makes a great HTPC wireless keyboard. Yes, it has a flimsy feel. Yes, its a bit too expensive and needs competition.
I'm using a D-Link DIR-655 Wireless N Router. Excellent device. Recommended.

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XM XVSAP1V1 SkyDock with Built-In XM Tuner for iPhone and iPod Touch (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ok I must say I am extremely impressed With the XM Skydock. The install was easy, took about 20 minutes, 3 minutes was waiting for the area of the car I had to clean to dry. The only issue I ran into was I thought the cable that they give you that hooks up the receiver is short by about 6 inches (installed on a 06 Honda Civic). Activating the radio itself was a breeze, i did it all on line and never had to talk to a human which I enjoy. But if you have to speak to someone, it will be Bob from India. The sound quality of the radio was far beyond what I was expecting, it was crisp and clear, sounded just as good as music from my iPod. The app for the iPhone is perfect, you can tell they took the time to do it right the first time. Listened to it for the past two days and found no glitches or bugs in it yet, its absolutely beautiful. Overall I am pleased with this radio and would recommend it to anyone.

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XM SkyDock lets you enjoy live Satellite Radio anywhere you drive using your iPod touch or iPhone. Get commercial-free music, live sports, news and exclusive entertainment through your existing vehicle radio with easy Do-It-Yourself installation. Tag songs and easily purchase from iTunes and expand your personal music library.

Enjoy SIRIUS|XM Content Using XM SkyDock, you can listen to every channel available on XM with an "XM Everything" subscription. You can also add "The Best of SIRIUS"' to enjoy premium channels from the SIRIUS lineup. You can also subscribe to other XM programming packages, including Family Friendly.
Easy Installation Installation is a breeze. Install the free XM SkyDock App on your iPod touch or iPhone directly from the Apple store, magnetically mount the antenna to your vehicle, plug the SkyDock into your vehicle's cigarette lighter power adapter, insert your iPod or iPhone and adjust to your liking.
The PowerConnect FM Transmitter lets you tune into XM programming through your existing vehicle radio, but if you have an auxiliary input or cassette adapter you can also connect that way for better sound.
Easy Migration The SkyDock is also easy to move from vehicle to vehicle, and great for traveling.
Just Tag It! If you hear a song you like, you can tag it for later purchase from iTunes. A great way to expand your personal music library.
Portrait or Landscape View The SkyDock application works in either portrait or landscape mode, so choose whichever works best for your vehicle.
Flexible Stalk The flexible stalk optimizes placement in your vehicle. You can twist it up to 90 degrees in either direction or bend it to be clear of controls or other items.
Stay Charged The SkyDock charges your iPod touch or iPhone while you listen--unplug it and go, with a full charge.
What's in the Box XM SkyDock Satellte Radio Tuner with PowerConnect, Magnetic Mount Antenna, Aux In Cable, iPod touch and iPhone Spacers, Quick Start Guide, User Guide, XM Channel Guide.

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SSL DD879MBI In-Dash Double-DIN Full iPod Control Multi-Media Receiver 7" Widescreen Touchscreen TFT Monitor Bluetooth Enabled Review

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(More customer reviews)Radio looks nice but touch screen is thin and sratches eassy. Also the clock is never shown unless you use the remote to find it then displays for 5 seconds. The bluetooth will not sync with my iphone but will sync with other phones tried customer support but still havent heard back has been 2 weeks, also the interface looks cheap compared to others and the dvd starts at begining no last memory function.All in all i would not recomend this product if you can buy a name brand radio becuase you get what you pay for.

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Sangean WFR-1 WIFI Internet Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)An internet radio opens up an almost overwhelming number of broadcast streams and for someone like me, who enjoys classical music, there is a wonderful choice of commercial free stations worldwide. I own (or have owned) a number of internet radios;a Slim Devices Squeezebox(!), a Roku Soundbridge R1000, a Revo Pico portable, a Receiva AE and a Sangean WFR-20, but the new Sangean WFR-20 is almost the best of the bunch (I will explain why it is not unequivocally the best in a minute!).
The Sangean WFR-1 is beautifully finished with a polished wooden case, an array of controls on the front panel, including on/off, volume and equalizer (tone control). They are not particularly intuitive but better than the single knob on the WFR-20. There is also a substantial and full function remote control, resembling that of the Roku, rather than the credit-card sized devices that come with Pico and the WFR-20. The amber display is larger than those found on any other set but the Roku (more about this later).
Set-up was very easy (I use an ethernet wired connection to my router but it works with my wi-fi network) and it was playing within a few minutes of unpacking. There is also an FM tuner with a separate antenna. Sound is excellent and far superior to any of the other sets I have owned except Roku, which is almost as good. For this unit, Sangean has gone to Frontier Silicon rather than to Receiva for their streams. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of stations, including Real format so I can get all the BBC channels (a big negative with Roku). There is little delay in receiving streams after switching on and Frontier has a good website where you can set up favorites and add new stations. Playing stored music from my computer via Windows Media Player has been easy and more consistent than with the WFR-20 or AE.
Now for the downside. Despite a larger display that claims to offer four lines of text, there is no control for format (as Roku provides) or for brightness (which the WFR-20 offers). Most frustrating is that Frontier do not stream program information with the station! There is plenty of room for this on the display and such information on content is invaluable because some stations do not provide this audibly; the WFR-20 does this well because it uses the Receiva streams but it would require reprogramming of software by Frontier to have this on the WFR-1. Frontier tell me it is being discussed but they have no plans for implementation! Surprisingly, Sangean, although the 800lb gorilla here, do not seem inclined to pressure Frontier. I have had several conversations with the amiable Selwyn, whom you reach quite easily when you call up technical support at Sangean, and he agrees totally with me and suggests that I contact Frontier (which I did) or write a review to make this point - which I am doing!
So in summary, this is an excellent product with great acoustic performance but marred by small, but irritating, shortcomings in the display. As a result, I gave it 3 stars rather than 5.

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