Powerball Neon White Pro Signature

This Signature Gyro Ball is limited edition which already is something to look for. The product comes in a lovely box – containing a manual; 2 starter’s string; a safety band and a CD which doesn’t help much but its there for you.

I found this signature series gyro ball harder to grip and to exercise with, due to the extended monitor on top which feels completely differnt from the classic series. (Which i recommend you to buy before you purchase any other gyro balls)

I’m experienced with the Gyro ball, and thus i do the two finger trick to start the gyro ball up, it really takes alot of practice with the classic series before you can actually do this. The strings are for beginners and if you can’t do it? Get the classic version, which is alot easier to start up.

I can currently go up to 10,000 r.p.m. (rotations per min.) and it really trains your endurance for any sports and later on you can really feel that push it gives you after days on the ball.

Personally i really like this product with various funcctions you can do by yourself or simply have a competition with you mates, and do play with this ball in the dark, the white neon light is simply awesome.

For those who doubts if the ball works – try the classic version and see for yourself and relatively cheaper.

Price-wise: Its a little bit over budget but i guess it worths it for a year or two, get the FREE shipping if you’re really gonna buy it or you’ll get stuck with an extra 10 pound fee for shipping, packaging and VAT in addition to the purchase price.

Reviewed by : C. M. Ho “CMH”,   Jan 25, 2010

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

I’m a frequent upgrader and loyal Canon fan. I traded up from an XSi last year to the T1i, and now this year to the T2i. I was within days of ordering the 7D until they announced the T2i, with all the features I wanted from the 7D at half the cost. I immediately pre-ordered the T2i and have been having some fun with it over the last 24 hours. The verdict so far? I am in love with this SLR.

I believe the last few iterations in the Rebel series have been comparable in quality. The T2i shares much of the same pros and cons with its predecessors, and ultimately, not too much has really changed. That said, the very minor things that did change were huge to me. I’m big into video, which is what got me looking into the 7D. Both the 7D and the T2i have the stereo audio input jack. My T1i just had the built-in mono mic which was unacceptable for someone who is doing more than home videos with this camera. So that feature, along with full manual control of video recording (not available in T1i), and 1080/24p (and 30p if that’s your preference) makes this a common sense upgrade if you’re serious about video. 720p/60 is also really cool for the silky smooth framerate, although I personally find the movie-like feel of 24p video best.

As for what the camera is really made for, still photography, it is still the king at (in the mid-entry-level DSLR class). 18 megapixels really, truly is more than any person really needs. My XSi from a couple years back met all my needs with 12mp, however, 18 creates for even better bragging rights to the general public. “How many megapixies is that thingy? Eighteen? OMG! You are such a pro!” Anyway, back on track now. The noise levels in most photos I’ve taken are pretty decent for 18 megapixels. It’s comparable to the noise on the 15MP T1i from what I’ve experienced so far. 6400 ISO is now a default option instead of an expanded setting (12800 ISO still is), which is nice to have, though you’ll hopefully never have to use it.

The kit lens is of course the same old 18-55 I’ve bought practically 5 times over now. A great budget lens and excellent value, but I absolutely can’t go back to using it after buying some of the better lenses Canon has to offer. If the money’s there, you will not regret investing another few hundred dollars some better glass. Otherwise, the 18-55 is a great lens to start out with.

Only major complaint I have is the white balance in incandescent lighting still isn’t as accurate as I’d like. I also wish they kept the same LP-E5 battery so the two I already have would be compatible with both of my cameras. And a nitpick, the “Rebel” name is stupid, to be completely honest. It should be named “550D” as it is in the Europe market. SDXC support is cool, but I can’t really comment on it as I’ll be using SDHC cards for the foreseeable future. Oh, and the slightly redesigned buttons are a welcome change. A little more ergonomic than before.

In conclusion, if you’re thinking about upgrading from a T1i, there isn’t really a compelling reason to unless you are okay spending hundreds just for the sake of having the latest in gadgetry (what I do), UNLESS you are in it for the video support, which is AMAZING at this price point. You used to have to spend at least a couple thousand on a professional camcorder to get the kind of video support that you can now get in a consumer DSLR at a very reasonable price. Thanks, Canon! Oh, and amazon got it to me super fast too!

Reviewed by : S. Van Wagenen,   Mar 2, 2010

Philips 818566

I’ve been waiting for this lamp to come out in North America for over a year now. I first saw this while visiting friends in Hong Kong. I was smitten at first sight and purchased one for myself. On a subsequent trip, I bought a second one and I use them on each of nightstand alongside my bed. These lamps are just plain sexy. My best friend, who is a designer, loved it at first sight and she’s a picky one. Two of them are almost bright enough to read by but not quite. However, just one lamp can drastically change the mood of a dimmed room. These are not bright enough to have any impact during normal daylight hours. It’s more of a subtle device.

For a sense of scale, these lamps are about the size of a volleyball.

I recently purchased my THIRD lamp (that’s how much I love this product) on Amazon.com but it was defective and had to be swapped out. However, I can tell you that there are subtle differences in the Asian and North American lamps.

1) the faceplate with the bulbs is a bit sturdier and has a few plastic dimples
2) the function which continuously cycles the colors is very gradual v. the rapid-fire changes in the Asian-market lamps
3) These lamps ARE NOT the new Generation 2 lamps that are currently out in Europe. Amazon.uk has these lamps but will not ship to the USA for some incredibly stupid reason even though the AC transformer can handle US voltage with a simple three prong adaptor. Gen2 lamps have SEVEN bulbs and are 50% brighter. These are the Gen1 lamps with 4 bulbs but they are still plenty bright.
4) There are some theorized mounting accessories in the works for these lamps but I have not seen any yet

Now, all this being said, I also recommend this over the mini-lamp due to the RF remote which can operate up to six lamps simultaneously. The remote, by the way, uses a touch-wheel similar to an iPod and it also allows a dimming function and an intensity function which means you can change the illumination to a white light, if so desired.

The only drawback I have with this lamp is that it’s pretty easy to roll off of its infinity-shaped base-plate (which actually, now that I think about it may not be part of the US-release), or the flattened area at its base where the cord inserts. This is not a lamp that you want to have near a high-traffic area or in a home with kids, pets, or clumsy folks.

Bottom line? This is a spendy, but endlessly pleasing product with killer looks, and a “wow” factor that will amuse even the most demanding consumer. You won’t need to paint your walls anything but white and with a couple of these installed you’ll be able to change the entire look of the room with just swipe of the remote. Now some people will argue for LED bulbs with a remote, and it’s true that they are much cheaper, but the aesthetic of this product can’t be beat.

Buy one. Buy two, actually.

Reviewed by : P. Park,   Jan 30, 2010

Garmin nüvi 285W/285WT

Earlier this year, my numerous trips around the Twin Cities and into Greater Minnesota convinced me that I needed additional help navigating the North Star State. So after doing some research, I obtained a base level Garmin and started using it immediately on expeditions all over the Cities and beyond. It became my indispensable companion.

This 285W reviewed here is my second Garmin unit.

The 285W is, really a base level Garmin unit similar to my first. Single point routing, text to speech turn by turn directions, accurate and detailed maps of the US and Canada, and classic Garmin reliability in getting you where you need to go. A nice widescreen (which is really the way to go with these devices, IMO). In those respects, the unit is exactly the same as my first unit, and provides a base level experience for any user. On those features alone, I would recommend this unit to anyone wanting to take the plunge into the world of having a navigation device.

The 285W does have two additional features that put it at the high end of the base level Garmin units:

Bluetooth:
The 285w is bluetooth enabled and allows for pairing with and taking on the features of a bluetooth compatible phone. While I don’t like answering and using cell phones in a moving vehicle as a general rule, the bluetooth pairing worked perfectly for me. And I do admit that using the garmin to make and receive calls is a lot safer than fumbling with a handheld phone.

MSN Direct Traffic:

The traffic feature is somewhat more problematic, although this is not really Garmin’s fault per se. The traffic feature on this model uses MSN Direct, and comes with a 3 month trial subscription. The subscription is fine, and I suspect that would be even more useful for those who live in more densely packed areas with larger coverage than the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

The problem is not that after 3 months you have to pay for the service (its MSN’s service, not Garmin’s). The problem is that MSN’s service is going away at the end of 2011. Purchasing this unit and purchasing a subscription you can certainly do, but the MSN service will only last until then, and then the device will essentially be without the traffic feature, unless you purchase an additional device from Garmin that gives you access to the NAVTEQ traffic system (this is a one time purchase that replaces your charger with a receiver/charger and as of December 2009 has a list price of $120). Again, the fact that MSN’s service is going away is not Garmin’s fault, but its something to consider before obtaining this device. If you just want to use it for the base Garmin features and the Bluetooth, you’re golden. Buy this and be happy. If you are looking for a solution that includes traffic updates reliably, I would recommend one of the Garmin units that comes with traffic such as the 760 and 770 models.

Aside from the traffic issue, I have absolutely no complaints about the product. Garmin devices such as this one simply make my driving and travel better, which is something valuable in this day and age. Period and end of the story.

This is my second Garmin, and I daresay it will not be my last.

Reviewed by : Jvstin “Paul Weimer”,   Dec 13, 2009

Casio Men’s G-Shock MTG1000-1

The Casio product pictures of this watch are deceiving — the marketing photos were obviously taken with bright lights.

The Good:
- VERY solidly built: my son has had a couple of the G-Shock Solar Waveceptors, and this thing is hands above the others I’ve seen in terms of sturdiness.
- This is both good & bad: the face of the watch (the crystal) is RECESSED significantly; on the positive side, this will protect the mineral crystal from scratches.
- It has the ultra-cool features of Casio’s amazing Tough Solar/G-Shock/Atomic Timekeeping… that alone is worth 4 stars.
- While it doesn’t quite live up to its pictures, it does have a chronograph look as opposed to the more geeky LCD dials most of the other watches in the line have.

The Ugly:
- Overall, NOT as attractive as the sexy ads portray in my opinion. They obviously used a lot of light for the photos. My first reaction when receiving it was, “this isn’t the watch I ordered!”
- The face is VERY dark — and the small markings (city indicators, function indicators, etc) that seem so visible in the picture are virtually INVISIBLE. I had to get a magnifying glass to set my city correctly. If you are over the age of ~40, fuhgitaboutit. I have the big brother technology to this watch, the Titanium Oceanus brand, and the markings on this watch appear to be almost HALF the size of those on the face of my Oceanus.
- The recessed face **really** detracts from the good looks of the watch; someone sitting near you would have to look straight onto it to see the face — you’ll have to turn your wrist directly toward you to see the time.
- This watch is pretty heavy. Probably works for a teenager doing sports, but waaay too heavy for a little guy like my 8 year old.

Overall, built very well, just not as attractive as portrayed and dark/hard to read. This is for my 15 year old son — thought about returning it — but I’ll let him decide whether to keep it.

Reviewed by : Kirk R. Scott “krs”,   Aug 26, 2008

Sony STR-DN1000

I have had this receiver since Aug. 1, 2009, and am very happy with it. It is missing some features like S-VHS inputs but none that I care about. I purchased it to use with HDMI devices in a 5.1 setup in one room. It works great for me and I highly recommend it.

PLUSES:

* Excellent audio.
* Good GUI that is easy to use, but you must read the manual first and consult it as you go (at least I had to).
* Good readable front and on-screen display with options for what is displayed while unit is operating (device, sound field, etc) and nameable inputs.
* Four HDMI inputs.
* Attractive design.
* Exceptional Auto Format Decoding that produces very good sound from 2-channel sources with clear centered dialogue and some LFE output. I use this setting exclusively for all devices and it unfailingly detects the proper format.
* Very easy and very accurate auto speaker setup using included microphone. It set my front speakers to large instead of small but other than that I didn’t have to change any of the settings.

MINUSES

* Poor manual. Too small in size, not well-written. This seems like a common problem with electronics these days, but maybe it is just because devices are more complicated.
* You must purchase a separate device to use with iPod/iPhone.
* No S-VHS inputs (not at all important to me, but might be to some users).
* Somewhat confusing speaker input placement on back of receiver. (I would have put the front speaker inputs above the surround back inputs and next to the center channel input.)

I use the receiver with a Sony LCD TV, Samsung Blu-ray player, Cox Cable DVR, Tivo HD, Energy Classic speakers and Infinity subwoofer. No compatibility problems encountered. I use it is a smallish room (11 x 13) and hardly ever set the volume above 35, so it seems to have plenty of power.

Before I bought this receiver, I tried a Pioneer VSX-919, which is a good receiver that gets excellent reviews. However, I could never get it to sound right to me. The Sony sounded good to me from the get go. That doesn’t mean one is better than the other, but for me the Sony was the better-sounding receiver. One feature I really liked on the Pioneer was iPod/iPhone support without having to buy add-on devices. Sony and other manufacturers should do that!

I am very happy with this purchase and would recommend it to others who want a mid-range receiver with good sound, good features and nice appearance.

Reviewed by : L. Ross “amazontrader”,   Oct 9, 2009

Onkyo TX-SR607

I don’t have much to add from other reviews. This is a simply wonderful receiver. I can find only one fault with it (see below) and it’s not even Onkyo’s fault.

The feature set is quite complete, and it appeared to me that there was little reason to pay more for features in Onkyo’s more expensive models in the same line (e.g. THX certified sound). I was also very impressed with how easy it was to set up (with the auto speaker calibration) and a very effective universal remote control which worked with all of my equipment except my Playstation 3 (which doesn’t have an IR remote).

While I’m not a true audiophile, I know what good sound is. Also, I recently had a friend over who owns a $100,000 system to audition my set up. We both agreed that for a $400 receiver, the Onkyo produces a wonderful, smooth sound. My Onkyo replaced a well regarded Denon receiver which had cost over $1,000 new and there is simply no comparison in the quality — the Onkyo is far superior. I am using my Onkyo to drive some Magnepan speakers (which are excellent by the way) but are known to need a lot of good clean power to run effectively.

My only criticism is how opaque “surround sound” has become these days. Both Dolby and DTS have introduced quite a few artificial processed surround sound modes that to my ears do not sound very good. The receiver doesn’t do a great job making it clear whether you are getting the true surround sound from the source or a fake “processed” mode. To make matters worse, it actually requires some setup from your BluRay DVD player to get the right output (or it did at least from my PS3). You have a choice of allowing your player to do the processing and output a multichanel PCM signal or to allow the receiver to do the processing. What I found interesting was that BOTH of these modes were turned off on the PS3 by default so I was actually getting no true surround sound and it was very unclear why…anyway, none of this is Onkyo’s fault…but I mention it in the review to point out that you should make SURE you are getting the full output from your player. Listening to content in DTS HD from a BluRay player is simply magical…but I bet a surprising number of people who have the equipment capable of doing so are not hearing it…

Reviewed by : Dylan,   Jan 24, 2010

Braun Series 7- 790cc Pulsonic Shaver

I just want to start out saying that I have very sensitive skin; especially on the neck. I tried each of these shavers for 1 month. This was ultimately a journey in trying to find the best electric shaver. Thank God for money back guarantees or I would have gone broke in this process. Ultimately I felt that the Braun Pulsonic was the best of these shavers and the one I continue to use.

Philips Norelco 8240xl
-Really not a bad shaver. It is very quiet and the shave was fairly comfortable and quick. Also, it’s not that expensive and is a good value for the price.

Pros:
-gives a decent shaver overall
-quick shave
-fairly comfortable
-very easy to clean

Cons:
-had trouble getting all my neck hairs (had to keep going over neck)
-any more than a days worth of stubble and this thing will tug on your facial hair (hurts a little bit)

Panasonic 8243a wet/dry shaver
-not at all worth the money in my case
-I know alot of people like this shaver and I really wanted to but the actual performance of it led me to decide otherwise

Pros:
-ability to use shaving cream with this shaver reduces irritation
-does a decent job on the face
-shaves fairly close

Cons:
-used the shaver for one month and I always got ingrown hairs on my neck and jaw line after shaving with it
-frequently nicked my neck and jawline, drawing blood
-pretty loud

Philips Norelco Arcitec
-really not worth the money and overall gave a mediocre shave
-the 8240xl was a better shaver for my face

Pros:
-decent shave on the face
-shave was quick
-easy to clean

Cons:
-doesn’t shave that close for such a high end shaver
-very poor job on the neck (irritated my neck, always missed many neck hairs in spite of repeated passes)
-way to much money when the performance is not even as good as the 8240xl (looks like Philips paid too much attention to design and not enough on performance for this one)

Braun Pulsonic
-The hands down winner and best electric shaver I have used to date. Before I used the other shavers I bought this one first about 6 months ago and used it for a month. I initially felt that this did a very good job of shaving my face but wondered if I could find a better shaver for a cheaper price, so I sent the shaver back to Braun after a month. After having used the other shavers, I purchased the Braun Pulsonic again and continue to be happy with its shaving performance

Pros:
-very good shave for an electric shaver (if I take the time, can get almost as close as a blade)
-does not irritate my skin (even with repeated passes, that includes the neck)
-shave is very smooth and comfortable
-once your face adjusts to the shaver, the shave is fairly quick
-cleaning station is very convenient
-say what you will, it might seem unnecssary but it really is convenient, it lubricates the shaving head for a smooth shave, and it leaves the shaver head smelling nice and lemony

Cons:
-would be nicer if this shaver was cheaper
-this thing is loud, too loud
-the shaver head gets warm and quickly (tip: if head gets to hot, hold it in front of a fan for 10 seconds, cools right down)
-when I shave when the shaver head gets really warm it irritates my skin unless I let the shaver cool down

So the Pulsonic is the winner and even though this shaver is expensive, I was happy to pay the money for its superior performance to the other shavers. I also want to point out that the only difference between the Pulsonic 790cc and 760cc is that the 790cc has an lcd screen that shows power level and hygiene level and the 760cc has an led screen where led lights simply light up to indicate battery life. To me, the hygiene level on the 790cc is pointless; I mean, does someone really need to be reminded to clean their shaver.

Reviewed by : Kevin,   Jan 30, 2010

Just Dance

I admit, I wasn’t expecting much when I first heard about Just Dance a few months ago. I figured it’d be just like another one of those games like Dancing with the Stars and High School Musical where you see characters on screen dancing, but all you’re doing is waving your remote to match the visual cues on the screen. Ho Hum.

The first thing that struck me when I popped the game into the Wii was that these were fun songs from every era. They’re all family-friendly, and there’s something in the track list for everyone, from baby boomers to Gen X’ers to Gen Y’ers. Here’s the entire track list. Most of the songs are not covers, but original tracks from the original singers.

Girl Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
A Little Less Conversation (JXL Radio Edit Remix) – Elvis vs. JXL
Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex
Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen
Heart of Glass – Blondie
Womanizer – The Gym All-Stars
Groove Is in the Heart – Deee-Lite
Jerk It Out – Caesars
I Live to Move It (Radio Mix) – Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman
Not N Cold (Chick Version) – Katy Perry
Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
Girls and Boys – Blur
Fame – In the style of Irene Cara
Lump – The Presidents of the United States of America
Kids in America – Kim Wilde
Pump Up the Jam – Technotronic
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
Le Freak – Chic
That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band
Louie Louie – Iggy Pop
Funplex (CSS Remix) – The B-52s
Jin Go Lo Ba – Fatboy Slim
DARE – Gorillaz
Bebe – Divine Brown
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue
Acceptable in the 80s – Calvin Harris
Who Let the Dogs Out – Baha Men
Wanna Be – Spice Girls
Step By Step – New Kids on the Block
U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer

The second thing that impressed me was that this game features actual dance moves to the songs. In other words, not only are you playing the game, you’re learning actual dance steps. You’ll learn the “Mashed Potato” that was all the rage in the 1960’s to Dee Dee Sharp’s “Mashed Potato Time”. You’ll learn the best disco moves of the 70’s with songs like “That’s the Way I Like It”. And my personal dream come true–you can dance like MC Hammer with “U Can’t Touch This”.

For the controller, they went for a decidedly simpler approach, and they hit a home run. For using one Wii remote, the controls are remarkably accurate as far as detecting whether you’re dancing correctly or not. For each move, you’ll be given a grade of “Great”, “Okay” and “X”. Now, I won’t lie and say the controls are the most precise in the world. There’ll be plenty of times you’ll be doing the moves precisely, but the Wii will tell you you’re not. But where this game triumphs is that even though the controls may be off, the game is so fun that you really don’t care.

And you also find that the more you practice the moves and “feel the music”, the better your scores become. If you’ve gotten to the point where you’ve memorized the dance and are just doing the moves to the music, your score will be great.

The game is simple. You choose a song, and then after a countdown from 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, you’ll see a silhouetted character on your screen doing the dance moves. The character is generally dressed appropriately for the song: a disco dude will lead you through “That’s the Way I Like It”, a cowgirl will do a two-step to “Cotton Eye Joe”, and a dog (yes, a dog) will dance to “Who Let the Dogs Out”. You basically just have to do the mirror image of the character’s moves.

They also have multiplayer games. In the first game (Challenge), you can basically have a dance-off between you and up to three other friends to see who’ll get the high score. Again, you don’t mind in this case if the controls are not completely precise because you’re all on the same playing field. In the second game (Strike a Pose), it’s like a game of Red Light / Green Light where you have to freeze in your tracks when the music stops. The third game (Last one standing) is an elimination game where the person who makes the least mistakes wins the game.

As fpr the exercise value, with virtually every song, I ended it panting because I was out of breath, and even though I was out of breath I wanted to try it again and again until I got it right. To me, that’s the sign of a great exercise game.

Reviewed by: Nutwiisystem.com,   Jan 12, 2010

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

I’m currently in Phase 3 of my P90X workouts and the only regret I have is not having purchased these sooner! They are FUN to use! Everything from switching the weight dials, pulling them out of the base, the feel of the grip and sliding them back into the base is enjoyable. Even the rattle of the weights works with your momentum when lifting. (that is not to say the weights are loud in any way)

A few things I noticed.

BowFlex did a great job selecting which weight plates are added and removed for every setting! In other words, the dumbbells look great with any weight setting because they are distributed and spread out accordingly. I think they look pretty cool even with no added weight plates (5 pound setting)kinda like futuristic hex dumbbells.

The hand grips are hands down the best I’ve ever felt on any dumbbell period. In fact, they feel better than majority of other handles on unrelated devices, like bicycle handles and hammers.

Although I worried initially from some of the other reviews about the size, mainly the width of these dumbbells, they have not presented any issues whatsoever. Even when I read that you’d have to make slight adjustments to certain movements, I was worried… but now I understand what those adjustments are and they truly are so minor that it doesn’t even take conscious thought past the initial perception of it.

The design/colors are truly a thing of beauty. They don’t feel like a dirty, rusty, smelly pair of dumbbells like my old hexagon dumbbells. They feel like a sleek, expensive, hi-tech gadget, which for me, really adds that extra motivation while working out. It’s a good feeling knowing you have the best gear to support your fitness goals.

As for durability and construction, once again… feels solid. Of course these are not your regular pair of steel/metal dumbbells that you can drop and throw around with little concern. The SelectTechs have intricate moving parts and many different materials beyond just steel, but with proper use and care, I can see them lasting indefinitely. (life-time)

Conclusion:

Visual Design – 5 stars

Functional Design – 5 stars

Durability (w/proper use) – 5 stars

Ease of Use – 5 stars

Satisfaction – 5 stars

If you’re looking for a pair of dumbbells that look great, work great, costs less than buying individually, takes up minimal space and inspires you to push your workouts to the next level… get these immediately. You won’t regret it!

Reviewed by : David Kim “DeyBwah”,   Jan 12, 2010