GRIFFIN TECHNOLOGY Xpress Digital Audio Cable for Airport Express Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I wanted an optical cable to connect my MacBook to my home theater receiver, and this works just fine. I had no trouble with connecting it to my MacBook or receiver. The cable is a good length and is plenty flexible. I like it because it's cheaper than other cables that I've looked at, it comes with two mini-Toslink adapters, and it can be used as a regular Toslink cable by simply not putting on the mini-Toslink adapters.
I gave it four stars because there was a cut across part of the sheath when I took it out of the package, so I wasn't very impressed with the quality control. Luckily, the cut wasn't deep enough to penetrate the sheath into the optical fiber. Overall, I think that it's a good choice.

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Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just unboxed this 15 mins ago and it's up and running and brilliant!
There aren't a whole lot of digital HD channels yet here in brooklyn, about 10 that I can pick up in fair quality, and about 4 in great quality.... but you can pick up all your regular analog channels too. NBC HD looks amazing and the color fidelity is more than I expected.
I have a macbook pro core2duo 2.2ghz. Receiving the NBC HD channel takes about 90% of 1 of the 2 cores of this processor on Activity Monitor -- does not skip or jitter, no lag running other applications. I've posted a screenshot of it on this review also... but the small size doesn't do it justice. Native resolution is about 1420 x 800 in HD.
The software it comes with is also quite intelligent... eyeTV Lite.... and the remote is functional and almost has a Front Row kinda feel, appropriate for an apple device. Has tivo like controls built into the remote... you can pause live HD, and record-- yes. I didn't think it would work so easily, but it works without configuration. Comes with a free subscription to TitanTV to receive your program guide info. You can also plug a cable box into it and use the titan TV software to get the cable guides..
The device itself is compact, and I expect it'll be easy to "pack your TV" along with you anywhere you go.
It also functions as a DV bridge and has inputs for S-video, yellow RCA video, and a headphone like line-in for audio (you'll need a RCA to mini patch cable if you wanna use RCA audio inputs)... so you can hook up your cable TV, VCR, playstation, xbox, anything that uses standard outputs -- and use your computer screen as a TV replacement.
Overall I got much more than I expected. A+
Thanks.

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Plug the Pinnacle TV for Mac stick directly into your computer's USB 2.0 port to start experiencing the power of digital and analog TV complete from your desk or the comfort of your couch. The ultra-portable stick along with the convenient antenna and mini remote make it easy to take your TV for Mac with you anywhere you go. The provided EyeTV software enables full playback controls including pause, rewind, fast forward, skip, slow-motion. Record your favorite shows manually or from the built-in TV Guide. You can even capture video from your VCR, camcorder or game console with the included AV cable.

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JVC KD-AVX44 El Kameleon Vehicle Multimedia Receiver w/ 3.5" Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was searching around trying to find something that I could use as my central "media" center without having to install a mac mini in my Pt Cruiser.
My needs were/are: Ipod integration (including video playback), Dvd Playback, CDs, Bluetooth and of course am/fm. After a long hard search of single-din units I choose this model.
[...]
What I liked about this unit is you have a video out. You can hook up your headrest monitors and if you have a game system (Xbox, PS, Wii...what have you) you can hook it up to the video in that it has to offer as well (with full playback to your headrests). This just allows you to have direct connection to your cars speakers.
Dvd Playback. It is very good. Turn the car off, it'll start right back up where it left off.
Bluetooth. My boyfriend has a Pioneer DEH-P9800BT which I installed as well (A great unit if you don't require Dvd play back). Unlike the pioneer unit there is no mic to install anywhere and the quality still sounds pretty good on both ends. Doesn't matter what source you are using Bluetooth will alert you when someone is calling by pausing your music/video and showing the caller Id. You can accept or decline.
AM/FM. I was a bit disappointed that the unit didn't have RDS. I have been using a factory unit that had it and kind of miss that feature. Seemed like a feature they could have added.
Ipod. Heres where I am on the fence. I had been using a fm transmitter for my ipod and finally wanted direct connect because I could not take the quality anymore. I purchased an Apple Composite AV Cable (THIS WORKS JUST AS GOOD AS A JVC KSU20 CABLE) Of course, The quality was 300% better than before. However, The Interface is a bit slow. I really hope that JVC comes out with a firmware upgrade that speeds it up a bit. When I go to play "The Killers" it takes me approx. 1 minute to get to the letter "K". But for the most part I keep it on shuffle. The unit charges the Ipod as well.
Ipod Video. This is a cool feature. With either the JVC KSU20 or the Ipod Composite AV cable. You can watch any video off your ipod and direct the signal to the headrest monitors as well.
Pros: Great Bluetooth, DVD, Ipod Video integration with a sleek (no button look). Love the 4 setting tilt screen (great for stereo units closer to the ground)And Love the Proximity motion light as well.
Cons: For a single din unit JVC did a decent job, Ipod interface is really my only complaint. I had looked at the JVC KD NX5000. But didn't like the look of the unit or felt the need for crappy navagation. The menu interface feels like it should be more user friendly (getting to the ipod artists list has to be done by hitting about 5 buttons)
I have not used satellite or the back-up camera (which I plan to install soon).
[...]
Good luck and have fun with this great little unit.*UPDATE*
A few new things.
Satellite Radio - Bought the Sirius Adapter through ebay. Though it's not as fast as a stand-alone unit, It sounds great and it's nice to have it integrated into the radio.
Iphone Compatibility - I was a little disappointed to see that, unfortunately, the Iphone does not seem to be compatible with the unit. Maybe with either an update from Apple or JVC this will change in the future. For now, I use my usable Ipod touch just as a music jukebox in the car and Iphone for everything else (gym, work, etc...). It's actually not a bad setup.
HD Radio - Buying the HD Adapter fixed my RDS problem. Any stations that send out artist info is now displayed. Without excellent reception, those extra HD stations are hit or miss. It's a nice feature to have. Quality can be exceptional at times.
I will keep those interested up-to-date if I come across any new info on the unit.
Have Fun,
Mary

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6FT USB Composite AV TV RCA Video Cable for Apple iPod Nano 4th Gen. 16GB, 8GB,iPod Touch 2nd Gen. 16GB, 32GB, 8GB w/ AGPtek USB All in one card reader (CANNOT work with iphone 3GS and 4) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This cable only works on videos that you download onto your device. it WILL NOT work on Netflicks or you tube videos

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Apple Universal Dock for iPod (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First things first, Apple is a great company and the IPOD is a wonderful product.
However, I have to recommend others to go a different direction when considering a home stereo dock.
You can choose to buy this product. If you do, be prepared to shell out significantly more than the cost of this unit to be happy in the end.
The only thing that come with it are the adapters for different Ipod models. At a minimum you will need to spend on the following add ons: wireless IR remote ($30), and a charger ($30-$40) as well as the RCA cable adapter to connect to your hone stereo ($10-$20+)
The Kensington includes all of the following: Stereo Dock, IR remote control with (2) AAA batteries, 7ft. gold-plated RCA output cable, AC adapter. It is designed to take all ipods as well.
You literally will spend double after on all the Apple add ons.
Its not a coincidence that the customer rating on the Kensington is 4 1/2 stars vs. 3 stars for Apple's dock. Most people recognize great values when the see them.


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VUDU Set Top Box for Movies On Demand Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Vudu's combination of solid Standard Def and High Def video performance, stable hardware/software, easy to use interface, ease of setup and instantaneous playback make it the closest product yet to the "killer" internet based movie delivery platform. But for a few small improvements and one very critical issue with the studios, vudu could be the next way most of us watch movies on demand.
First the good news:
* Video quality is excellent on the SD content and outstanding on the HD. On Hot Fuzz (SD) there were NO discernable artifacts and the upscaled pic (1080p) on my RS1 FP was as good as the same movie I saw upscaled on my Toshiba XA2. The HD on the Bourne movies was very good and compares favorably to any HD DVD or Blu-Ray that I have. Video quality is nailed on this product.
* Interface is excellent. Quick to browse. The search function is fast and filtering results are relevant . Interface is the best I have seen for a video service.
*Setup is very simple. I would have no problem giving this to any tech challenged family member who has the prerequisite network requirements. Also it comes with all the cables you need to set it up on your HD tv, including HDMI and cat 5 network patch.
* Customer service is readily accessible and responsive by both phone and email. They seem to be solidly behind their product.
*The software and firmware on the unit is being updated regularly. It appears VUDU is commited to making requested changes and fixes on a regular basis. New features (such as TV and HD content) are being rolled out quickly to customers.
*Movie load speed is instantaneous on the features I have watched so far. No lag or glitches in playback. And the areas that are pretty good right now but need improvement...
* Sound is hit and miss. A good number of films are only in stereo. Vudu says this is what the studios have given them. New releases are coming in with 5.1 but not all.

* There is no Closed Captioning right now in the box.
* The remote is compact and simple, consisting of only a few buttons and a down-click scroll wheel. Even though it is a joy to use, it is RF only. I wish that I could integrate this with my IR Harmony remote.
* HD content right now is limited to the free Bourne Movies. As I mentioned the quality is excellent for both video and sound. More HD content is promised and would be the SELLING point for this product if they could have well encoded, quality new titles available for rent in DVD release time window.
* Price for entry is still to high. Vudu will need to come down to the $49 - $99 range for the initial hardware setup to be competitive. Indications are that the price is dropping.
The critical issue for Vudu? Studio release policies! Vudu is hamstrung right now by the fact that:
* some movies are not for Rent on first release but rather must be purchased. Movie purchase, even if a feature is in HD, is NOT where Vudu will attract customers. I don't go to Blockbuster to buy a film, and likewise I won't be buying a film from Vudu. However, I will pay more for a day/date release with the same DVD as Blockbuster has if I can just get it from Vudu. Even more so if it is in HD.
*New releases must rentable on the same day as they are released to DVD. This is THE market that Vudu will compete in. Catalog title rentals are great for the occassional view, but are not where Vudu's success will be made.
*HD content will be a HUGE driver for success. More HD content, especially HD new releases are necessary.
Vudu is a well executed, easy to use and stable product out of the gate. It is poised for greatness. If the above issues can be addressed, it will be under your TV sooner rather than later.
-Alex Baird-
Vudu Evangelist
*********
Update to review: 11/03/08
I wanted to update my review after living with and using the VUDU system for a year or so.
After this first year, Vudu is still being used extensively in my home theater. Vudu has consistantly updated and upgraded their product through both the interface and the quality of the movie software they deliver. This has improved the ease of use of an already great interface. For instance, they have grouped all their versions of a movie (Standard Def, High-Def, HDX (their blu-ray quality version) into a single listing so you no longer havea a confusing multiple list with each title. Sorting and finding movies has also been improved with the added bonus of "recommended" titles (think tivo recommendations) and a listing of the most popular rentals and purchases. In addtion they have instituted an archive feature where purchased movies can be stored on their servers to free up room on the local drives. Extended rental times and of course a much larger library of movies rounds out the changes to the interface.
The biggest and most important change for me though has been the quality of the movie software. The number of HD titles has been greatly increased. But more importantly is the release of many new films on the HDX format. This high bit rate codec is NOT a purchase/rent and immediate view format. It takes about two hours to download an HDX encoded title. However, the quality is truly the best of ANY downloadable service to date and is indistiquishable from a HD-DVD or Blu-ray. When I compared the HD-DVD version of "Chronciles of Riddick" with the HDX version it was impossible to tell the difference even on freeze frames swtiching back between the two. A similar comparison of the Blu-ray version of "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and the HDX version confirmed this. It is simply amazing to be able to get such high quality video through a download service! There is a difference in the audio quality between the HD disc formats and the HDX, with the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray having the more advanced lossless codecs (Dolby Tru-HD, DTS-Master HD or PCM uncompressed) with richer sound. But HDX is encoded with a high bit rate DD soundtrack in up to 5.1.
Overall the Vudu is the internet based movie service to beat. Vudu has done an outstanding job of upgrading their product and seem hard at work on delivering even more features in the future.

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Apple AV Component Cable (OLD VERSION) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a high quality cable. The molding of rubber is high grade. The mold of the connector casings are first rate as well. One of the prime things to consider when buying cables of any sort is to think of the points of stress during a bend, and, these cables are very thoughtfully designed in that regard. All seams are very tight with high tolerances and reinforced points. Also, the tapering of the inner part of the connector creates a limited range of motion for the wires thereby reducing the possibility of breakage. The actual connection pins have redesigned profiles that allow for slightly better surface area connection for better transfer rates. It's typical to see Apple redesign something as mundane as a cable so thoroughly as this. A lot of parts of the design could have easily incorporated industry-standard specs, but, for Apple, their designers love to redesign things from the bottom up, from the wire grade-material-sheath ratio all the way up to the connecting pins.
In any case I think if you know what you are doing then these cables are perfect for you. A lot of the bad reviews has more to do with the labeling on the box then the actual cable. It is not so clear that if it will work as normal RCA cables, which it won't. To be clear: THIS CABLE WILL NOT WORK THUR THE NORMAL VIDEO/RIGHT AUDIO/LEFT AUDIO RCA plugs. There is another Apple cable out that takes care of that. This cable is designed for HDTV split RGB/AUDIO channel plugs. And, even at that, there are some TV manufacturers out there who advertise as such but they aren't HD. They are hybrids and offer sub-class quality, which these cables will not help much for.

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Connect an iPod to your television with the Apple Component AV Cable and gather up your friends to watch videos or slideshows together on the big screen. You can also connect the Component AV Cable to your stereo or powered speakers for a room-filling audio experience. The Component AV Cable connects to your iPod or Universal Dock to the 30-pin dock connector. This cable also features a USB connector that you can plug into a power source, such as a computer or the included USB Power Adapter.

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Menotek Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Converter cable (for Unibody MacBook - Pro - Air etc.) - IMPROVED WITH AUDIO Review

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(More customer reviews)If you have a new Macbook from April 2010+, and are looking for an adapter for HDMI W/ audio THIS IS THE ONE. I spent 30 minutes looking through Amazon to make sure it would be the right one, so let me save you the trouble and say it is!
Make sure you go to settings and switch audio to "HDMI out".
Now the problem... It's not a problem with this product at all (thus the 5 star rating). The Macbook won't control the volume with the keyboard through HDMI out, you have to control it from the TV/Monitor/external speakers. Not sure why, I guess that's just how Digital audio works. This was a surprise to me, so I wanted to let you all know that.
The audio sounds fantastic!

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Audioengine AW1 Wireless Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before I share my thoughts, I want to emphasize that I'm not only commenting on the product itself, but also on the Amazon partner that sold it and the manufacturer of the product as well.
I placed the order with Amazon. OneCall was the Amazon partner to actually fill the order. The product arrived well in advance of the advertised date. Due to other conflicts in my schedule, it sat on my desk for about 2 weeks before I had a chance to even look at it. Regretfully, when I initially set it up, it did NOT work....I am relatively saavy with respect to computer trouble-shooting and was able to conclusively determine that the sending and receiving units were NOT able to see one another. All of the other aspects of set-up were fine...computer saw the USB sender device, patch cords allowed me to connect the USB receiver device to my 20-year old Sony stereo receiver (red/white RCA inputs).
I initially attempted to contact the manufacturer, AudioEngine, over the July 4th weekend. Duh.....stupid move, of course, on my part. Never-the-less, I also contacted OneCall after the July 4th weekend to explore their return options. For the record, they were more than eager and ready to accommodate my return for credit or a replacement unit. That being the case, I indicated I wanted to give AudioEngine a chance to reply to my contacts to them. The next day, I received an e-mail from AudioEngine support verifying my situation and affirming that I probably did have a defective sender or receiver in the package I received from OnceCall. (Oh well, as the expression goes, S%$# HAPPENS.) AudioEngine, ON THE SPOT, IN THE FIRST E-MAIL to me, indicated that they would be sending a replacement unit.....no questions asked. The replacement unit arrived via FedEx two days later....along with instructions and an RMA# for returning the defective unit directly to AudioEngine.
FOR ALL WHO READ THIS, PLEASE HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR, ONECALL AND AUDIO-ENGINE WERE POSITIVELY AWESOME IN THEIR RESPONSE (Just read some other product reviews here on Amazon to realize that this isn't always the case.)
I AM VERY PLEASED TO WRAP UP MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT BY STATING THAT THEAUDIOENGINE W1 PREMIUM WIRELESS AUDIO ADAPTER WORKS LIKE A CHARM.....EXACTLY AS ADVERTISED BY AMAZON, ONECALL, AND AUDIOENGINE. I might add that I live in a home that is about 80 years old and, that being the case, the walls and ceilings are all plaster and steel mesh (not chicken wire or wood) lathe.....all that steel lathe holding the plaster to my walls has given some wireless routers I've tried a run for their money. Not sure why....but absolutely NO ISSUES here with that this time.
Anyway, I must concur with and support the highest praise of the 9 other reviewers of this product. I know individual experiences and situations will always exist, but this unit worked "plug & play" and exceeded what I would have expected based upon my experiences with other "wireless audio" products.
A+++ to Amazon.....OneCall....and AudioEngine for service, support and product! Praise earned....Praise due.....Praise given!
(By the way, I am a professional musician, performer and educator....music is my life and listening to it almost 24/7 is a part of that life.)


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Elgato EyeTV HD DVR for HD cable and satellite TV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review taken verbatim from my tech column... Overall, great product but requires some computing horsepower to really shine.
Last week, Elgato announced a new TV tuner/DVR solution for the Mac. It is called the EyeTV HD and pulls 720p HD cable content right from your cable box. The device was born out of the need to get television shows and movies out of the living room and on to the multitude of devices people are using to get their daily fix.
After one week of using the EyeTV HD, I have come to the conclusion that for Mac users, there is no better way to move content from cable box to computer. Initial setup time is less than 15 minutes and is very straightforward. As soon as the cables are connected and software installed, the little guy can be put to work recording content to your computer's hard drive. By using an IR blaster to control the cable box, cannels can be switched by the EyeTV software, thus enabling scheduled recording- just like a standard DVR. The programming guide is powered by TVGuide and matched up accurately with my FiOS on-screen listings. This service is subscription based ($19.99/year) but Elgato includes one free year with hardware purchases.
Programs can be recorded manually, or by adding them to the record schedule. The EyeTV HD works just like a stand-alone DVR, but only one program can be recorded at a time. Content is stored in a proprietary EyeTV format that weighs in at about 5GB per hour- small hard drives need not apply. To set up a recording, all it takes is a click on the record icon located beneath the show listing, the EyeTV software does the rest.
Once recorded, content is converted for playback on the iPhone, iPad, or both. In addition, recordings can be exported to all the popular formats, including DivX, Windows Media, and native H.264. The converted content is also automatically added into iTunes, complete with title, description, cast, rating, and more. This makes searching for specific shows or moves extremely easy and I found it to be a nice touch. Want to edit the recordings before sending them to you mobile device? That can be done within the EyeTV app as well. Users can trim out commercials and split up long recordings with a few clicks of the mouse. The process is very intuitive and also nondestructive, as original recordings are kept alongside the edited copies.
In addition to functioning as a DVR, the device can also stream both live and recorded programs to an iPhone using the optional EyeTV app ($4.99). My experience streaming over WiFi was flawless. Content streamed from a 2.66GHz MacBook Pro to an iPhone 3GS looked as if it were being played locally. Viewing over 3G also worked well, though video would frequently re-buffer, especially in congested areas. Current 3G speeds are not really designed to stream high quality video, but as the faster networks come into use, apps like this will really begin to shine.
Overall, the EyeTV HD works as advertised. The video quality is high, the conversion process works without a hitch, and the video editing is simple. One thing to keep in mind is the reality that you will need to have the HD set-top box near your computer for this all to work. Component video cables can easily be found in 10-foot lengths, but beyond that, the risk for signal quality loss comes into play. Bottom line, Mac users serious about their television will not be disappointed with Elgato's latest offering.
The good:
- TV lovers' dream come true, only limited by the size of your hard drive
- Setup instructions are clear, takes less than 15 minutes
- Captures high quality 720p HD
- Quickly converts video to iPhone and iPad friendly formats, about 5 minutes per half-hour of video
- Editing is very easy
- Can also record from S-video and composite video with included adapter
- Ability to stream to iPhone over Wi-Fi and 3G (see below video for demo)
The bad:
- Core 2 Duo Mac required, very processor intensive to run
- Cable/Satellite box needs to be located near the EyeTV HD and computer
- Annual subscription to TVGuide required after first year, $19.99
- Decreased productivity levels resulting from 500 channels of television on computer and in pocket

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EyeTV HD is the only solution that gives you full access to all your premium content by connecting your Mac directly to your cable or satellite receiver. EyeTV HD comes with an infrared remote and channel changer cable ("IR blaster") for automatic control of the receiver. EyeTV HD also features a unique dual-format capture mode that records in the iPad and iPhone formats at the same time. This feature supports super-fast exports to iTunes from EyeTV, and facilitates the streaming of live and recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad using the optional EyeTV app.

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Composite AV Video/USB Cable for Apple iPod, iPhone, iPad (6 feet) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this in the hope that it would work with an iPad. It works like a charm to play movies or to use Netflix or YouTube.
It won't work to display your general iPad so don't try. Make sure you plug it in before you start Netflix or the movie or it won't work.

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