WOW Phone-Digital-Internet Cable

What's the Difference Between HDMI Cable and Component Cables?

Over a short length, the cables don't make a difference. What is different is that in the case of the component cables, the TV has to convert the component analog signal to digital. In the case of the HDMI cable, the signal is already digital. So there may be a perceptible difference if the TV doesn't do the conversion well.

Putting aside picture quality, the reason you should use the HDMI cable is that it carries the HDCP signals, component does not. If the source device, say a cable box, looks for the HDCP handshake, and doesn't get it, it Will not output an HD signal. So if you want to watch HBO in HD from a cable box, you have to use HDMI or DVI.

I use the component cables. Then again, I spent about $60 on them (gold plated ends, large conductors, thick shielding, etc) for both the video components and audio channels. And, I bought them a few years ago, before HDMI cables were even around. The difference in performance between top-end component video cables and HDMI cables is negligent. But, if you just use standard RCA cables - like the cheap ones the cable TV company gives you - you won't get as good of quality as the HDMI cables.

As HDMI cable connections become more and more widely used, we are often asked: which is better, HDMI or component video? The answer, as it happens, is not cut-and-dried.

First, one note: everything said here is as applicable to DVI as to HDMI; DVI appears on fewer and fewer consumer electronic devices all the time, so isn't as often asked about, but DVI and HDMI are essentially the same as one another, image-quality-wise. The principal differences are that HDMI carries audio as well as video, and uses a different type of connector, but both use the same encoding scheme, and that's why a DVI source can be connected to an HDMI monitor, or vice versa, with a DVI/HDMI cable, with no intervening converter box.

The upshot of this article--in case you're not inclined to read all the details--is that it's very hard to predict whether an HDMI connection will produce a better or worse image than an analog component video connection. There will often be significant differences between the digital and the analog signals, but those differences are not inherent in the connection type and instead depend upon the characteristics of the source device (e.g., your DVD player) and the display device (e.g., your TV set). Why that is, however, requires a bit more discussion.

Several people a day are searching for an interconnection solution by trying to connect HDMI to Component outputs through a cable for their high-definition equipment. Unfortunately, this isn't a matter of rearranging wires and having the right type of connector. There is a fundamental analog versus digital incompatibility problem similar to the upcoming digital broadcast TV switchover versus your current rabbit ears that receive analog broadcast signals. They aren't compatible and leave people confused just like the poor fellow in the commercial.

Component video is based on an analog format. With analog signals, the voltage signal on the wire is in a wave format and how the wave changes in height is what is important. Theoretically it has an infinite number of values between zero and the maximum, somewhat like the variable windshield wipers I had on an old Thunderbird. With the HDMI or DVI format, these are based on digital signaling. Digital as you probably have heard, uses ones and zeros with a series of pulses all at the same height and they are either present or missing. At the other end, processing equipment reassembles the information. In a 4-bit binary coding, you can have 1 of 16 different values as 4 1's and 0's assembled as a group can have 16 different combinations. So equipment at the other end of the cable that is detecting signals and looking for analog sine waves would put out total gibberish if it just received pulses of 1's and 0's.

Some solutions are very easy. If an HDMI or DVI output is available on both boxes, use those. The difference between DVI and HDMI is that HDMI caries the audio in addition to the video signals. But DVI is just as good and other than the expense of an extra audio cable, that will solve your problem. If you were trying to use the Component outputs because you already had the HDMI port tied up, they make HDMI switch boxes that are fairly inexpensive where you can plug multiple HDMI cables in on one side with one output on the other.

Via component cables an analog signal is transferred. HDMI is digital. Among other things this has the following advantage: As long as the data is transferred correctly you have the perfect image data arriving at your TV. There won't be a single pixel difference in what the 'sending' device puts out and what reaches your TV. Component signals (as all analog signals) can vary in quality and you can get disturbances.

So actually: At first glance HDMI cables might appear more expensive than component cables, but that's not entirely true. For HDMI the required quality of the cable is related to the length you need. If you only need to cover a short distance (two or three meters) a cheap cable will give you the best possible result that could ever be achieved by any means ... it's digital ... the cheap cable has no influence on the image quality ... just like the network cable your computer uses to hook up to the internet has no influence on the image quality of videos you download / stream.

Of course this doesn't mean component is bad: Among affordable analog video connections it's probably by far the best, but HDMI just has the advantage of not having to care about the signal being unintentionally "affected" by outside influences during transfer. So if you can: HDMI is the better choice.

Source: http://bit.ly/2129598

See How The DTV 2009 Digital Cable Conversion Will Affect You

If you're like most people, you're probably wondering what is going to happen to your TV's and your TV service when the DTV 2009 Digital Conversion kicks in February 19th 2009. Well, guess what? You're not alone.

It really comes down to some basic and easy to understand concepts.

What it means: Starting this Feb., cable will no longer be available directly from the outlet in your wall directly to your TV. Why? Because the Federal Government, for emergency services, is taking over the analog signals that cable companies use to transmit TV signals to their customers.

So, that means that if you currently have analog cable, meaning NOT Digital Cable Converter boxes on your TV's, your service will be shut off. If you would like to stay with cable, you may apply for up to 2 vouchers ($40 ea.) from the cable company for Digital Converter boxes. In many areas, only low income residents will be able to receive the vouchers for 2 Digital Converter boxes. To have cable service on more than 2 TV's, you will be required to buy your own Digital Converter boxes for each TV.

Also, when considering if you're going to stick with cable, be sure to find out what their Digital Cable prices are for all of your TV's. I've seen commercials, and have spoken to people that say "My cable company says that I will be fine if I stay with them when Feb. 2009 comes around." WARNING: There's a lot more to it than that. Let me ask you this. Do you have Digital Cable? If the answer is "yes", let me ask you another question. Do you have Digital Converter boxes on ALL of your TV's? Or, maybe just one or two. How much will it cost you to buy Converter boxes? Just be sure to check out the prices for Digital Cable on ALL TV's. It may surprise you. Also, do you know how to program a Digital Converter box to work on your TV? You'll need to learn, or guess what? You can pay the cable guy to come out and program your TV's to your new Digital Converter boxes. So, when the cable company says you'll be "fine", just remember, they still run commercials that say that Satellite TV charges extra for LOCAL Channels. ( That hasn't been the case for over 5 years)

People ask: "Will I have to go out and buy a Digital TV?"

Answer: If you're getting your TV signal with rabbit ears, and you haven't purchased a new TV in the last 5 years, chances are (about 99%) that you WILL have to buy a Digital TV. Why? Because even off-air analog (rabbit ear) signals are being taken over by the government, too. So, to even get a signal from an antenna, you will need to have a Digital TV.

Now, some good news: Satellite TV service has been 100% All-Digital for 15 years. So, no one has ever had to go out and buy a new TV just to get Digital Satellite TV service. And, unlike cable, Satellite TV service does not CONVERT a poor signal into a Digital signal, they use Digital Receivers. Meaning, the signal is pure Digital.

More good news: With both DISH Network and DirecTV, the equipment and installation for up to 4 TV's is 100% FREE. Pretty cool, huh? You can even compare DISH Network and DirecTV to see who's the better value.

Source: http://bit.ly/1187713

Finding the Most Practical Cable Internet Plans for Your Home

In the digital era, it pays to be always connected and updated. Communication via the internet has become a major necessity in our lives, not only in business but also in personal correspondences that we share with friends and loved ones. In this regard, cable and internet plans at home are a must to enjoy unlimited and convenient internet browsing experience. There could be a lot of providers and features to consider when choosing plans to keep everything in-sync and up to date, hence the need to compare plans wisely.

Australia, a vast piece of land located at the bottom part of the world, is one of the countries with citizens spending more of their time online. They conduct their work, communicate with family members, or even run their businesses via the World Wide Web. It's no surprise that an increase in the demand for stable internet connection and reliable service providers in the country has been observed throughout the years. A total of more than 60 providers are already present in the country, so it is only practical to compare internet cable plans prior to securing one in your area.

In order to provide assistance with respect to choosing the most suitable and practical cable and internet plans to utilize at home, here are some of the options or providers to appraise, in no particular order:

Optus Yes

Unlimited broadband bundles and entertainment on NBN, ADSL, and Cable are what Optus Yes can provide. From basic data and phone packages to various entertainment bundles, Optus Yes has something for everyone. These plans start at $70 to $115 a month.

Telstra

Telstra, for one, is the biggest name in the country when it comes to internet service. If you need power and superb online experience, Telstra claims that they have it. They also offer newest bundles such as the Telstra Premier Bundle Collection and Telstra Bundle Collection that offers 300GB bonus data for each plan. Starting at $89 a month, customer can never lose.

Foxtel

Foxtel is having a Christmas Promo that allows its clientele to save up to $175 on the upfront cost. For as low as $95 a month in a direct debit plan with a huge amount of data usage, home phone and Foxtel TV; it also includes applicable equipment, its installation, and activation fees. This is just the starting bundle for Foxtel, there's still an array of other options up to 1TB with 45 channels of brilliant TV.

iiNet

With iiNet, clienteles can connect better. iiNet upgraded its service to various cable and internet bundles and thus renders a fully loaded naked bundle for everyone. It connects people to a broadband of at least 1000GB. They also allow local + standard national calls for as low as $79.99 a month. Numerous cable and TV bundles are also being offered at very reasonable amounst.

However, even with the numerous promos and deals that comes with the popular internet connection service companies in Australia, it all goes down to the kind of service that they offer. The bottom line still lies on the type of customer service they provide, after securing an internet line. The after sales service of the ISP providers, whether on Australia or in other parts of the world, still remains as the most important factor to consider when getting the best cable and internet plan for any home.

Before securing a cable and internet plan for your home, it is important to compare internet cable plans to get the best service possible for your needs at home and for work.
Source: http://bit.ly/9237782

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What is the best nationwide Cable TV ??

Cable TV has been facing increasing competition from other communications types like satellite television and even such computer sites as Netflix. With all of these options now available, it is a good opportunity to look at the pros and cons of cable television. In this article, I will examine three positive and three negative points about cable television, to help you make an informed decision.

Advantage #1: Stability

Cable television is especially stable in its service. Both traditional air-wave broadcasts and modern satellite television can and will cut out on you during any serious storm (and often during some not-so-serious storms). Cable, on the other hand, will only go out if there is some flaw in the overall system, like a broken cable or router. This will happen far less often than rainstorms, so cable television will provide far more consistent service.

Advantage #2: Bundling

Often specials are available by bundling your cable television with other services in a single package, usually internet and phone, but sometimes services like cellular phones. These bundles can actually save you quite a bit of money, especially if you bundle all three typical services together. It also provides the convenience of having a single bill.

Advantage #3: Price

Cable television can actually be fairly inexpensive, if you don't add too many options. The initial hardware costs are fairly inexpensive when compared to satellite, and the FCC requires that all cable companies provide a basic cable package consisting of broadcast channels and a few local channels. As a result, cable television can be the cheapest form of television aside from buying an antenna.

Disadvantage #1: Annoying Monopolies

Many areas only have a single cable television provider, and this creates a monopoly. While the competition from satellite is increasing, the corporate culture of these monopolies is especially poor. Customer service can be terrible, if not non-existent in many cases, and consumer satisfaction with cable TV companies is consistently some of the worst among any companies in the United States.

Disadvantage #2: Confusing Price Packages

Many cable companies are very confusing when it comes to how much their service will actually cost in the long run. Many require you to sign up for two years in order to get a one-year introductory deal. However, you have to really dig on their websites to find out how much the second year will cost. In other cases, there are hidden fees, rental charges and taxes.

Disadvantage #3: Privacy

If you are bundling your cable television with your internet (and many people do), you will have less privacy on the internet. Cable internet works with a stable IP address that doesn't change, so people will be able to easily track your visits to their sites. Compare this with DSL, where you can easily reset your IP by turning your modem on and off.

With these advantages and disadvantages in mind, you will be in a better position to make a decision about whether to choose cable television.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6480986

UPPERCASE Premium Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 6 - Retail Packaging - Transparent

Product Description

Color: Transparent UPPERCASE PREMIUM TEMPERED GLASS SCREEN PROTECTOR Made with transparent glass that has undergone specialized tempered-glass treatment, our premium glass screen protector is made to protect your phone's screen from scratches and other external damages. The 0.3mm thickness and round edges of the glass screen protector protects your device without losing any clarity or the uncovered-screen experience.

CUSTOMER REVIEW

Got the screen protector and loved how it looked and felt. I was happy to see the alcohol wipe, cloth and dust absorber. I followed the directions carefully. All 4 corners were perfectly aligned, and appeared to be attached. However, after placing it down and smoothing it out the upper right hand corner came away from the phone. After closer inspection it seems like the adhesive they used had come away from the come away from the glass. No matter how many times I apply pressure it pops right back up. I can't stand the way it looks! It ruins the clean lines of the iPhone 5s. I am hoping the one I got was just defective and I will be contacting the seller to see if I can get a replacement. If the seller replaces it and sends me a new one that does not have the same issue I will update my rating.

UPDATE: Uppercase contacted me via phone AND email they sent a replacement with a note. This protector went on much better and I am now pleased with my purchase. Great customer service!

SanDisk Ultra 64GB UHI-I/Class 10 Micro SDXC Memory Card Up to 48MB/s With Adapter- SDSDQUAN-064G-G4A [Newest Version]

CUSTOMER REVIEW

Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What's this?) The primary reason for accepting this extra capacity SanDisk 64GB Ultra Class 10 Micro SDXC 48MB/s speed [Newest Version] for review was to compare with the SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS 30MB/s [Old Version] which I already own and several other similar capacity SDXC cards that I have from different manufacturers. This card reviewed here comes with awesome '10 year' warranty with decent read and write speeds just like the old version. IMHO slightly better read speeds than the old version. Read speeds are very good but the writes are generally slow in these category of cards (Remember what you are paying for) I wanted to share my tests & benchmark photos but Amazon is yet to approve the photos for display. I doubt it will ever get approved for display on this product page.

EDIT: 09/09/2014 (Since I got comments and requests to test on Android devices)

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Here are my benchmark numbers:

(Tested on PC) - 45.98MB/s read 35.92MB/s write (File Benchmark on Mounted exFAT File-system)

(Tested on Android Phone)(Kit-Kat) - 33.01MB/s read & 12.44MB/s Write Benchmark using A1 SD Bench running on Android Kit Kat 4.4.2 based Motorola phone.

Having said, I have purchased many SanDisk products before in the past. I have yet to have one fail or develop any defects even after prolonged everyday use. The first purchase done several years ago was a mere SanDisk microSDHC 32GB Flash Memory Card and while it was cutting edge when I purchased it and it still works perfectly. BTW that product is still sold on Amazon that shows people still love it even though it is slow. In my experience SanDisk products are always excellent buy. Having said, If possible always buy from trusted source like shipped and sold by 'Amazon LLC' (Not 'Amazon Marketplace' or third party sellers on 'Ebay') Since some of those products may be counterfeit products and your results will vary.

Just like the previous model SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS 30MB/s [Old Version] this one too came with this '16MB' partition offset as seen with the old model. SANDISK now seen to factory format the card with 'exFAT' but also somehow seen to include an 'offset' of 16MB as before at the beginning of the card which shows up as '16MB unallocated' region in the initial sectors on this card under windows disk management tool. This 'offset' of 16MB at the beginning of the card does not cause any problems in PC environment but in certain Android tablets and phones may cause the 'MTP' application to misbehave or some phones may reboot when you attempt to reformat the card. But I am happy to share that you can get this to work flawlessly after clean wipe of the partitions and let the Android device reformat the card.

The solution is to get rid of that 'unallocated' 16MB partition on the card. You could do it in PC but that might require some windows command line experience and using 'diskpart' utility and what not and I do not want to confuse people here with that process. For most novice users The process should be very simple, Just insert the card on the tablet and use the 'native' SD Card format tool or erase SD card under 'settings' that Android OS has and it will get rid of that 16MB partition and happily format and remount it. Now after this simple process the 'MTP' application works just fine with PC to transfer files to the SD card without any strangeness or odd reboot phenomenon when you attempt to format the card.

Not sure why SANDISK formats their newer Class 10 card in this fashion (They never did it with their class 6 cards earlier) and there's gotta be some technical explanation for why they include that 16MB partition that only SANDISK can give. In the end if you reformat the card in the tablet (Which defaults to exFAT) the card is seen to work just fine.

Read/Write Speeds while not as fast as Samsung Electronics 64GB PRO Micro SDXC with Adapter Upto 90MB/s Class 10 Memory Card (MB-MG64DA/AM) or SanDisk Extreme Plus 64GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card Speed Up To 80MB/s With Adapter, Frustration-Free Packaging- SDSDQX-064G-AFFP-A but remember you do have to pay premium price to get that speeds. For the price you pay for this card IMHO is slightly better than the old version.

Bottomline:

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This is an awesome 64GB capacity MicroSD card from a reputed manufacturer for budget minded people and gets the job done beautifully. This new version is slightly faster than the old version but The read and write speeds are adequate enough for most Audio,Video & picture file formats in a tablet or phones. The 'offset' of 16MB glitch mentioned above forced me to give *Four* stars instead of *Five* stars but let that not stop you from making a decision to buy it since you can easily get rid of that partition.

Highly recommended!

Cheers!

Samsung BD-HM57C Smart Blu-ray Player with Built-in Wi-Fi (Certified Refurbished)

Product Description

Stream movies on Netflix, weatherproof your day with AccuWeather, watch your favorite videos on YouTube, stay connected with Twitter and Facebook, listen to music on Pandora and much more. Expand your entertainment collection - watch Blu-ray, stream, or up-convert your favorite DVD to near Blu-ray quality. With built-in Wi-Fi, no additional cables or wires are needed to connect to your wireless home network. You can wirelessly access Samsung Apps or other Smart Blu-ray features with ease. You can also sync and stream content to other DLNA-enabled PCs, smartphones, tablets and cameras via Samsung AllShare DLNA technology. Seamlessly enjoy content from your Samsung smartphone, tablet, digital camera and laptop wirelessly on your TV with the AllShare feature. Share music, movies, pictures and other content on your devices with your friends and family on the big screen. You'll enjoy internet streaming, 18 preloaded Content apps including, Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, Vudu, Facebook, CinemaNow, Accuweather, Rhapsody, Flingo, Flickr, Twitter, Hulu Plus and over 100 more in the Opera App Store. Start watching in no time - This Smart Blu-ray Player is ready when you are in as little as 5 seconds with Quick Start Mode where most other players can take up to 10 seconds. The addition of Dolby Digital ensures an immersive audio experience. Plus by using a HDMI cable (included) it's never been easier to connect your TV and audio systems for higher quality audio and a better entertainment experience when watching your favorite movies, shows and sports. Best yet, enjoy your own videos, music and photos by connecting your external storage device directly to your Blu-ray player via the USB. Just plug in your USB drive and access your personal entertainment library. PLEASE NOTE: Some apps may require additional fees or subscriptions. Internet access required.

CUSTOMER REVIEW

This was a gift for my dad for his birthday. He really enjoys watching movies on it, though I don't think he knows what a Blu-ray is because he still rents DVDs from the local store. He has a HDTV, the picture quality is great even when he plays a normal DVD. I've tried to show him Blu-rays and he has a few I got for him, he still gets DVDs when he goes to the store. He also doesn't use the Netflix functionality though it works perfectly when I've tried to show him it. I showed him that you can view things off a USB and he just stared at me. I think he is just happy to have a DVD player again. Now if he can just figure out how to rewind them, he'd be fine.

HDTV Antenna - 50 Miles Range, 1byone® Super Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna, with Removable Amplifier Singnal Booster Powered Amplifier for the Highest Performance, the Longest Reception Range, Made of Superior Material, 10ft Coax Cable, the Most Durable Antenna in Extreme Weather, Bigger Size of the Flat Area Gets the Larger Reception Range. [ONE YEAR Warranty]

CUSTOMER REVIEW

After getting fed up paying exuberant amounts for cable TV, that no one really watches I pushed to make the switch to cutting the cord. (A note for those looking to cut cable, the cost savings really comes from not having to rent all the 'boxes' for $10-12 a month.) I previously tried out a similar Paper Thin HDTV antenna and had less than satisfactory results. The difference in why this one gets five stars...its amplified.

For anyone looking into switching I cannot recommend enough, get the amplified version. I'm still in my testing phase, so right now my antenna lives resign in my window, where it catches all the major networks I wanted. Depending on your TV placement you could have to place this unit without a direct view to the outside, but even when I tried that most stations still came in clearly. My long term plan for this is actually to mount it in the attic and split the signal among several TV's. I tested this briefly and event with signal reduction of using a splitter, I had four TV's running at once with no problems.

Features:

1. Approximately 13.5" x 10" x 1/2"

2. 10' flexible coax cable

3. 2 prong power cord plugs in close to where you connect the coax cable to your TV

4. Powered antenna pulls in all the major networks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QENFrZqqOMI

Sony BDP-S1100 Blu-ray Disc Player - Factory Refurbished

CUSTOMER REVIEW

What a steal! It's great to have an internet-abled blu-ray player without spending an arm and a leg.

Pros: Set up was incredibly easy. I love the "Netflix" button on the remote. Makes it easy and quick for my kids to get a cartoon going. It was packaged perfectly. I like the remote, too. I think I'm switching to using it for everything and retiring the cheap-looking remote I got from Comcast.

Cons: This doesn't come with an HDMI cord or LAN cord. I had both, so it didn't bother me, but if you don't realize it, you're in for disappointment.

Minisuit Mini Grip Car Vent Mount for iPhone 6 5 4 3, Galaxy S5 S3 S2, Note 3 2 1, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Sony

Product Description

At last, the best car vent mount is here. Minisuit has the newest, most functional car mount for your handheld device, to keep you hands-free (and ticket-free!) during driving. This Universal Car Mount is the most convenient way to easily keep your electronic devices within reach. 360 degree rotating function can be easily and quickly adjusted. No tools required. Can be removed quickly, thus eliminating threat of theft. Perfect accessory for anyone using a Bluetooth mobile phone, radar detector, MP3s or GPS Navigations system, and wants to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. BONUS: This nifty accessory transforms into a desk stand in an instant! Just take an old gift card or credit card and prop up your device like a pro!

CUSTOMER REVIEW

This is so simple yet, the best thing i have purchased from MiniSuit.. I have navigation in my car, but always find myself using my WAZE app or google maps on my phone instead. This puts the phone right in my line of site without having to worry about looking down. Also perfect while i'm charging my phone in my car. I drive about 2.5hrs a day back and forth to work, so its helpful to not have to look down to see if i have any new messages or if there is an alternate route that i can take and not sit in traffic. Fits both my cars in the vent screen.Fits my husband's iphone 6, and my iphone 6 plus.

iOttie Easy One Touch 2 Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6 (4.7)/ Plus (5.5)/ 5s/ 5c/, Samsung Galaxy S5/S4/ S3/ Note 4/3, Google Nexus 5/4, LG G3- Retail Pack

CUSTOMER REVIEW

Kindle, 6" Glare-Free Touchscreen Display, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers

CUSTOMER REVIEW

As has been the case for years, Amazon sloooowwwwly adds new changes and features to the Kindle. This one is no exception. If you've used a Kindle in the past, you're not going to notice much of a change with this one, but since there are some minor upgrades and so forth, I'll briefly go over them:

*** SCREEN ***

The new Kindle is touchscreen and has the typical matte finish with the slightly gray/off-white paper looking background. It's certainly not bright white, but it's also not LCD looking (dark gray.) It does NOT have buttons for page-turning as the older generations do. If you simply must have the page-turning buttons, please search for the older Kindles that offer that. One last thing regarding the screen: this is not a Kindle PaperWhite or Voyage where you have a back-lit screen... this has an unlit, off-white Kindle screen. I will say, the text is noticeably crisper and bolder than I've seen with previous generation Kindles and I believe that's because Amazon is using E-Ink's new "Carta" displays instead of the previously used "Pearl" displays. I love that and have been waiting for years for E-Ink, the Taiwan based company that makes the Kindle screens for Amazon, to improve them. It looks like they're finally getting it!

The new Kindle's screen resolution is 167 ppi which is slightly lower than the Kindle PaperWhite which is 212 ppi, and substantially lower than the Kindle Voyage which boasts an impressive 300 ppi (individual pixels at this density can not be distinguished by the naked eye.) Price-wise though, the base model PaperWhite runs $99 at the time of this review, and the Voyage base model runs $199 so you can see, the more you pay, the better the resolution and features. 167 ppi is fine though... in fact, most webpages are 72 dpi to give you a comparison.

*** SPECIAL OFFERS OR NOT ***

Like other Kindles, you have the choice of purchasing one with "special offers" which is simply a marketing tactic Amazon uses, which, although some people may find annoying, I actually like as it recommends books that I'm actually interested in versus random crap I'd never buy.

*** ON-BOARD STORAGE AND PROCESSOR SPEED ***

One upgrade the new Kindle has is the amount of on-board storage which now allows you to hold thousands of books and of course, it also comes with a slightly faster processor which Amazon claims is 20% faster although honestly, I don't notice the increase in speed. Pages turn quickly and that's all that really matters to me speed-wide. The on-board storage is 4GB, although you also have unlimited access to the Amazon Cloud so there really shouldn't be any worries about storage.

*** BATTERY LIFE ***

Even going back a few years, the Kindle Paper White bragged about a battery that lasted a week versus a day. For very casual reading, that was true with the Paper White although with regular daily use, it was more like 4 days or so, not a week. The new Kindle has a similar claim in that the battery lasts weeks, not days; that appears to be true. You can easily go two weeks with casual reading and most of that is attributed to the fact that there is no on-board light draining the battery.

*** WI-FI CAPABILITY (NOT 3G!)

Books are downloaded quickly through WiFi, usually in less than 30 seconds, and definitely under a minute, unless you have really crappy internet service. THIS IS NOT 3G so you CANNOT download books unless you have access to WiFi. I have never found this a problem as I download my books at home in advance of leaving for a trip or something. Besides, nearly every McDonalds, Starbucks, and hundreds of other retailers and restaurants now offer free WiFi so if you simply must download that book while travelling, go park in a McDonalds parking lot and download the book. It's not worth paying the extra money for the 3G access, especially when it oftentimes raises the product price by $50 or more.

*** DICTIONARY AND HIGHLIGHTING FEATURES ***

Like all new Kindles, the touchscreen has some major advantages, one being that you can click on a word you don't know and pull up the dictionary to learn what it means. Also, you have the option of turning on the "highlight" feature where you can highlight important text AND see what areas of text others have highlighted the most. For someone reading a book for research purposes (writing a paper, review, etc.), this is a nice feature as the parts of the book people find most helpful are usually highlighted, alerting you to its importance.

*** AMAZON PRIME BENEFITS ***

As is the case with all Kindles, subscribing to the Amazon Prime service is going to give you a lot of bang for your buck as you can "borrow" thousands of books for free, and also get special pricing on some items.

*** ACCESS TO YOUR BOOKS ***

Books are stored in the cloud and are accessible by any Kindle device registered to you, as well as from your home computer which gives you plenty of options for reading. Some people use a Kindle PaperWhite or Voyage in bed because of the backlight (as I do) and then have another Kindle that they use for daytime reading. Very rarely do I use my home computer to read the books but it is a nice feature to have for some people.

*** If this review has helped you in any way, please let me know. You can also post comments or ask questions in the comments section below. I try my hardest to include all the important information about the product to help you make an informed purchasing decision and feel comfortable with your purchase. Thank you for taking the time to read my review! ***

Poweradd™ 3-in-1 Charging Combo--[3.1A/15W Dual-Port USB Car Charger] + [2.1A/10W Universal Dual-Port USB Wall Charger] + [Micro USB Cable] for Apple and Android Devices (No Apple Cable Included)

Product Description

Color: White More likely to life Worry free the less of outlet when more than one devices need to recharge,the Poweradd car charger and wall adapter both provide dual USB port,you can charging your devices at the same time.More convenient for you with full speed charging . Moving and charging The compact and light weight design,easily slides into your pocket on the go.Take it to the office, on a traveling, on business or an evening out on the country. You can keep working, keep playing, or keep moving.Poweradd is your go-to, go-anywhere, go on-and-on power source . High quality,Self protection Built-in intelligent circuitry, which provide several layers of protection: Battery over charge; Battery over discharge; High voltage charge; High current charge; High power charge over heat; Short circuit.High quality ensure safety using . Specification Car charger: Input:DC 12-24V/1.5A Output: 5V/3.1A in total Size:2.67*1.14*1.14 inches Wall adapter: Input:AC 100-240V USB output: 5V/2.1A in total Size:2.68*1.80*1.60 inches Kindly Note Apple 30-Pin and 8-Pin cable not included. To ensure safety and best performance for your Apple devices, we strongly recommend using its original cable or a third-party certified one. Warranty policy 12 months limited product guarantee from Poweradd. Professional technical support, Efficient and always satisfied customer service 24 * 7 available. If for any reason you are not satisfied, please give us an opportunity to improve your experience by contacting us through "Your Orders" tab in your Amazon account.

CUSTOMER REVIEW

KabelDirekt (20 feet) HDMI Cable (1080p 4K 3D High Speed with Ethernet ARC) - TOP Series

Product Description

Length: 20 feet KabelDirekt High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet (1080p 4K 3D) - TOP Series (KabelDirekt is a popular cable brand from Amazon Germany). Please refer to the below manufacturer description regarding the production and quality control.

CUSTOMER REVIEW

With a magnificent new 65' 4K Sony set, I wanted to be very cable when choosing my cables to insure I can get the best possible picture from the best sources. When I saw the price for these cables I was skeptical as in my experience, when it comes to technology you get what you pay for. But I took the gamble and ordered them despite the low price and I must say I was amazed at the cables performance. I connected a 4K media center which is capable of displaying movies and media in 4K quality and it made me tear with happiness. These cables are definitely worth every penny and then some. Highly recommended.

Sony BDPS5100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Super Wi-Fi - Netflix Hulu Amazon Prime Streaming Ready (Certified Refurbished)

CUSTOMER REVIEW

A top feature, bluray player, that gives you high end player options and specs, at an affordable price by concentrating on quality where it counts.

Remote is basic, no bells, but it has all the options you need.

Upgrades 1080P to 4k.

Best player I have ever owned and only paid $69.00....

Smooth operation, compact, quiet and has a quick start up option.

PNY Turbo 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive - P-FD64GTBOP-GE

CUSTOMER REVIEW

This is a great drive, 60 dollars for a 128gb USB 3.0 drive is definitely good enough. I already had PNY's SD card, so I knew they made good flash products.

The benchmark showed up quite nice as well.

Sequential Read : 197.193 MB/s

Sequential Write : 104.529 MB/s

Random Read 512KB : 151.087 MB/s

Random Write 512KB : 32.768 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 4.596 MB/s [ 1122.0 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 0.110 MB/s [ 26.8 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 5.005 MB/s [ 1221.9 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 0.085 MB/s [ 20.6 IOPS]

Test : 100 MB [F: 0.1% (0.1/119.2 GB)] (x5)

Faster than Patriot or Corsair's lower tier USB drive models.

The... externals of this drive, though, is somewhat flimsy and the 'slide' mechanism is not quite as comfortable feeling as the big-name makers'. It's somewhat stiff and a bit too tight to operate, and I hope actually sliding it frequently won't break it off.

Other than that, I don't see any fault with this wonderful drive.

Amazon Kindle Voyage with Special Offers, Wi-Fi

CUSTOMER REVIEW

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Although I've owned almost every model of Kindle ebook readers since the 2nd generation Kindle that I bought in 2009, I had to think hard about ordering the new Voyage. I was very happy with my Paperwhite (the 2nd generation that was released in the fall of 2013), and as much as I wanted to try the Voyage, I wasn't sure I wanted to spend $199 on one. It became a moot point, though, when my wife ordered the Voyage, saying it was her early Christmas present to me. Now that I've had time to use the Voyage, I have to say I'm impressed. With hardware features like a 300 ppi display, LEDs that automatically adjust the screen brightness depending on the ambient lighting, and the user's choice of a touchscreen or sensors acting like buttons to turn pages, the Voyage is hands down the state-of-the-art e-ink ebook reader. At the end of my review, I'll give my opinion on whether it's worth upgrading from your current ebook reader.

When I received the Voyage, the setup was quick (although you do have to go through a brief tutorial), and after downloading a few of my books from the Amazon Cloud and adjusting a few settings, the Voyage was ready to go. Here's a brief comparison of the Voyage and the Paperwhite:

Voyage

---------

Size: 6.4"x4.5"x0.30"

Weight (wi-fi version): 6.3 ounces

Display: 6" diagonal, 300 pixels per inch, 16-level grayscale, LED frontlit

Storage memory: 4GB

Page turns: Touchscreen plus PagePress

Display lighting: Adaptive light sensor (automatic) plus manual adjustment

Paperwhite

-------------

Size: 6.7"x4.6"x0.36"

Weight (wi-fi version): 7.3 ounces

Display: 6" diagonal, 212 pixels per inch, 16-level grayscale, LED frontlit

Storage memory: 4GB (for the Paperwhites currently being sold)

Page turns: Touchscreen

Display lighting: Manually adjustable front-lighting

So the Voyage weighs an ounce less than the Paperwhite, and it's slightly smaller. Those are not substantial differences, but it might make a difference if you hand-hold your ebook reader for long periods of time. The higher resolution does make a difference, however, especially if you read many books with illustrations or photographs. I've been reading most illustrated books on my Kindle Fire, but with the increased resolution, I may read them on the Voyage now. And the Voyage's 300ppi resolution compared to the Paperwhite's 212ppi definitely makes a difference in viewing. Even the smallest font size is very sharp, although I prefer a slightly larger font for reading.

Besides the smaller size, the Voyage has some other obvious differences from the Paperwhite. The shell is made of magnesium instead of plastic. The capacitive touch screen is made of hardened glass instead of a plastic-like material. The Kindles have always been pretty resistant to damage if they were dropped. (Remember the videos Amazon used to show to demonstrate that?) The change in materials should make the Voyage even more resistant to damage. The location of the power button has moved from the bottom of the case to the rear of the case, at the top right, but if you're using a cover that activates the Voyage's Auto Wake function, you'll seldom need to touch the power button. The micro-USB charging port remains at the bottom.

One of the most significant new hardware features on the voyage are the pressure-sensitive page turn sensors. The last few Kindle models did away with raised buttons in favor of touchscreen controls. I prefer the touchscreen, but Amazon has obviously listened to Kindle users who miss the buttons, so they're back, but they're in a new flush, pressure-sensitive design that Amazon calls PagePress. The PagePress sensors are located on the sides of the bezel (the frame around the screen), which in the Voyage is flush with the screen, whereas in the Paperwhite, the bezel is raised about a millimeter above the screen. (This makes it less likely for sand or dust to get trapped along the edges of the screen.) The PagePress sensors are located on both sides of the bezel, so they're ambidextrous (thank you from all of us southpaws). Press the long vertical line on either side of the bezel to turn the page, and the dot sitting above it to flip back one page. You'll feel a slight vibration to confirm that you've pressed the sensor. The amount of vibration and the sensor's sensitivity can be adjusted in the settings. If you prefer touchscreen controls, the PagePress sensors can be turned off so you don't accidentally flip pages. After seeing how they worked (and they do work well), I turned them off. One thought: If you're reading on the Voyage in a darkened room, you can see the screen just fine, but you can't see the PagePress sensors, especially the little dots for returning to the previous page. It might have been better if they had made little bumps for some tactile feedback to your fingers.

Another new hardware feature that I like is the Voyage's new adaptive lighting that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen depending on the lighting of your surroundings. You can turn it off and adjust the brightness manually (like the Paperwhite) if you want to, but I tried it in several lighting conditions, and it works pretty well. When reading the Voyage in the dark, you can use the Nightlight feature to gradually reduce the screen brightness over time as your eyes adjust. To enable Nightlight, go to Settings, Device Options, then Screen Light. With my Paperwhite 1, I could see noticeable shadows across the bottom of the screen from the lighting; it was much less noticeable on my Paperwhite 2, but the lighting appears to be perfectly uniform on the Voyage. Like all of the Kindles, the Voyage's display is very readable outdoors even in bright sunlight that makes backlit tablets and phones almost impossible to read.

The storage memory in the Voyage is 4GB, the most memory that Amazon has ever put in a new Kindle. After accounting for the operating system, there's about 3GB available for books. Amazon says that's enough for thousands of books. Even with books that have illustrations and graphics, 3GB will hold a lot of books. Personally, I doubt if I've ever had more than a hundred books on a Kindle. With every book that you purchased from Amazon being stored in the Cloud, there's really not much need to store thousands of books on a Kindle, but the memory is available if you need it.

I haven't had the Voyage long enough to get a feel for the battery life. According to Amazon, a full charge will last up to six weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 10 (the maximum is 24). Battery life will vary based on the illumination setting and wireless usage. I've always used my Kindles a lot, and since the Voyage uses a tiny graphic to show the remaining charge instead of a digital readout, I'll keep on recharging it about every two weeks to keep the battery from going dead.

The Voyage's software is pretty much the same as the Paperwhite's. The Voyage retains what I thought was the most useful new software feature of the Paperwhite - Page Flip. It's the digital equivalent of putting a finger between pages of a paper book while flipping back (or forward) to see other pages. To turn on Page Flip, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and you'll see a pop-up of the page you're on. You can then go back or forward to find whatever it is you're looking for. When you're done, tap the "X" in the upper right of the pop-up, and it goes away. This is a really useful feature, although using the search function is often an easier way to find things.

In other software features, the Voyage includes full Goodreads integration, which was added later to the Paperwhite. And like the Paperwhite, the Voyage has a web browser that enables it to look up words on Wikipedia when you press and hold on the word. In a pinch, you can use it as a general web browser, but keep in mind that it's fairly slow and it's in grayscale. In other words, it's clunky.

Note that a USB charging cable is included in the box, but you'll need to provide your own AC charger. Amazon sells a 5V/1A charger (Amazon Kindle 5W USB Power Adapter), but there are tons of third-party chargers sold, with many of them costing less than Amazon's. Actually, your cellphone or tablet charger will work fine in most cases. You can also recharge the Voyage's battery from a USB port, but it may take longer.

I highly recommend a cover to protect the screen and to make it easier to hand-hold the Voyage. If you do get a cover, get one that supports the Voyage's Auto Wake function that puts the Voyage to sleep when you close the cover and wakes it when you open the cover. My favorites are the very thin, lightweight covers that fold back for one-handed reading.

I purchased the Kindle Voyage with wi-fi only and with the special offers. Frankly, I don't think most people really need 3G for an ebook reader. Wi-fi is so available in most locations nowadays that it doesn't seem worth the extra cost to get a 3G ebook reader. If you're traveling to a location that doesn't have wi-fi, just download the books you want to read before you leave home. If you do get the 3G option, note that AT&T provides the connection for Amazon's Whispernet service, so you should be able to receive a signal anywhere within AT&T's coverage area. About the special offers, you get used to them so quickly that you hardly notice them. And they're not intrusive - they don't pop up while you're reading - they only show on the lock screen and at the bottom half-inch of your book listings, and you swipe them away in a second. My advice: Save your $20 and get the special offers. And a lot of the special offers are worth seeing anyway.

Okay, the bottom line: Is the Voyage worth $199? In my opinion, if you're perfectly happy with your Paperwhite or other Kindle, there's no compelling reason to upgrade at this time. On the other hand, if you're a techno-geek or someone who reads a lot of books and insists on having the latest and greatest e-ink reader, there's nothing else on the market that even comes close to the technology of the Voyage, so go for it. If you're one of those folks who reads a lot but has resisted buying an ebook reader, the Voyage may be for you. With your choice of swiping or pushing buttons to turn pages, you get the best of both worlds. And as pricy as the Voyage is, it's only half the cost of the original 2007 Kindle, which had almost none of the bells and whistles the Voyage has (but it did have a speaker and headphone jack for the text-to-speech feature, which the newer Kindles, including the Voyage, lack). Another factor you might consider is that Amazon recently released a new 6" Kindle Fire HD tablet for under a hundred dollars. The Kindle Fires are all-purpose color tablets with hi-res displays that are fine for reading ebooks, although many people say they can't read for long on a backlit tablet without getting eyestrain.

Based on the Voyage's features and its performance, it's a solid 5 stars in my opinion, but honestly, it's a lot of money, considering that the Paperwhite is much less expensive and is a great ebook reader in its own right.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite with Special Offers, Wi-Fi, Black

CUSTOMER REVIEW

This is the fifth e-ink Kindle reader that I've bought. My wife and I were early adopters of Kindle, and when we buy a new Kindle, the old one goes to the next niece or nephew in line. I loved the original Paperwhite, with its small size, touch screen, front-lighting, and virtual keyboard. The all-new Paperwhite is a definite step up, and for me, it was worth the move, but others will have to decide for themselves. If you read a lot, and you don't already have one of the newer e-ink Kindles, it's definitely worth upgrading to the Paperwhite. If you have the original Paperwhite, the upgrade is well worth considering. Although I've only had the new Paperwhite a few hours, I'm already glad I upgraded. Here's a summary of my initial impressions of the new Paperwhite.

SIZE: It's the same size as the original Paperwhite - 6.7"x4.6"x0.36". The weight has been reduced slightly from 7.8 ounces to 7.3 ounces. The Paperwhite is very comfortable to hold in one hand, which is how I usually read. The really good news is that if you have a case for the original Paperwhite, it will also fit the new one (thank you, Amazon). If you buy a case, I highly recommend that the case include the magnetic AutoWake function. It's much easier to turn the Kindle on and off without fumbling for the small power switch.

LIGHTING: The front-lighting is noticeably improved over the original Paperwhite, which had slightly visible shadows coming from the bottom edge where the LED lights were located. (It didn't bother me, but some readers were annoyed by that.) I couldn't see any shadows in the new Paperwhite, where the lighting appears brighter and more uniform. With the Paperwhite's front lighting, you'll never need a clip-on light, even in total darkness.

TOUCH SCREEN: The text appears a bit crisper with more contrast, even though the 212 ppi resolution is the same as the original Paperwhite (but it's much better than the 169 ppi of the earlier Kindles). Unlike backlit tablets and phones, which wash out badly in sunlight, the Paperwhite is very readable in any lighting condition from total darkness to bright sunshine, simply by adjusting the lighting level. The touch screen's responsiveness has been noticeably improved. Swiping the page with a finger or touching the left or right sides of a page turns it immediately. With my old Paperwhite, I sometimes had to swipe or touch twice. The new Paperwhite is definitely more responsive with faster-turning pages.

BATTERY: According to Amazon, "A single charge can last up to eight weeks (based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at ten)." Certainly not all Kindle readers fit this profile. As much as I read, and because I download so many books that I leave the wireless turned on, I routinely recharge it about once every week or so just to bring the battery to full charge. In any case, the battery life is several times that of backlit tablets and phones. With the high-speed chargers that are available now, battery life shouldn't be an issue with the new Paperwhite.

OTHER COMMENTS: As a touch screen e-book reader, the Paperwhite has no physical I/O, aside from a power button and a recharging/data port. Unlike earlier e-ink Kindles, there's no provision for audio output, so you won't be reading audiobooks on the Paperwhite.

NEW OR IMPROVED FEATURES: The X-Ray feature from the original Paperwhite has been retained and improved to be more context sensitive. The new in-line footnotes that can be read without losing your place will make footnoted nonfiction books a more enjoyable experience, as will be the new navigation feature that lets you scroll forward and backward without leaving the page you're on. I haven't had a chance to play around with those very much, but what I've seen so far looks very promising. The new Paperwhite does not include FreeTime for kids or the built-in version of Goodreads (now owned by Amazon), but these features are expected to be added in a software update by the end of this year.

SPECIAL OFFERS: It's $20 more if you want to eliminate the special offers. You can do this at the time you buy the Paperwhite, or you can do it later online. Honestly, you get used to the special offers very quickly, and in my opinion, it's not worth the money to do away with them. Also, they don't interfere with your reading - you only see them when you turn on the Kindle, and after swiping the screen with your finger, they go away.

THE VERDICT: The new Paperwhite is the state-of-the-art e-ink ebook reader. With improved screen contrast for better readability, a more sensitive touch screen with faster page turns, and some new or improved features that enhance the reading experience, it was worth upgrading from the original Paperwhite.

Note: I also have a Kindle Fire HD 7", which I use for web browsing, emails, apps, and music, but for most reading, I prefer the Paperwhite, unless a book has color photos or illustrations.

----------------------------------------

Update (10-31-2013): After using the new Paperwhite for a month, the added feature that I love the most is the Page Flip. When you're on a page, swipe up from the bottom, and a slightly smaller pop-up of the page appears. The pop-up has page turn arrows to go back or go forward in the book (you can also just swipe the pop-up page). When you're ready to return to your original page, press the "X" in the upper right corner of the pop-up, and the pop-up page goes away. It's as close as you can get to holding your finger between pages in a printed book while you flip pages. This is really a helpful feature.

4GB Akai MPC CompactFlash CF Memory Card for MPC500, MPC1000, MPC2500 and MPC5000

CUSTOMER REVIEW

Works great with MPC 5K. Perfect for storing multiple projects and samples and transporting files from one unit to another.

Reasonable price, quickly shipped.

ARRIS / Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem (Certified Refurbished)

Product Description

Building upon the success of the SB6121, Motorola's SURFboard SB6141 enhances your personal media experience, at lightning-fast broadband speed. It harnesses the power of DOCSIS 3.0 technology to bond up to eight downstream channels and four upstream channels--providing you advanced multimedia services with data rates up to 343 Mbps download and 131 Mbps upload depending on your Cable Internet provider service. That makes streaming HD Video, gaming, shopping, downloading, working, high-quality voice and video conferencing, and peer-to-peer networking applications far more realistic, faster, and efficient than ever before.

CUSTOMER REVIEW

This cable modem is pretty much the de facto standard when it comes to the best overall.

Its predecessor, the SB6121, was the one cable companies recommended most, and this SB6141 carries on the torch of a very stable, fast, and reliable cable modem.

I haven't had any problems using this. Setup/installation was a breeze. Just hook up the RCA cable from the wall into this, then the Ethernet cable from this into my Netgear Nighthawk X4 router. They both communicate with each other flawlessly, and I'm getting about 13Mbs down and 3Mbs up speeds on an average day, and 34Mbs down and 5Mbs up during off-peak times with my 30Mbs package from Time Warner Cable.

Overall, I think this is the best value you can get for a cable modem, and now with this refurbished deal, it's more than ever worth checking out.

Highly Recommended!