Pioneer AVIC-F500BT 5.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been using the F500BT for a few weeks after using a Nuvi 760 for years. I already upgraded to Firmware 2.0. Here is how the F500BT compares to the Nuvi
Cons:
- Routing engine not as good as the Nuvi. Very prone to give U-Turns when I miss a turn even though I disabled them. Worse is that it doesn't know if the U-turn is illegal or not. Besides the U turn issue, most routes offered are not that bad in "Economical"
- Touchscreen not very responsive. Not as good as the Nuvi.
- Not as easy to use as the Nuvi in general.
- MSN does not work unless you use a big ugly harness. You also need to connect a ebrake signal for to avoid the menus getting locked out.
- Battery life of 30mins
- Does not auto dim the screen when switching to night maps.
- Does not tell you the side of your destination. The Nuvi does.
- Only 1 TTS voice in English. Not great, but not horrible either.
- Voice recognition doesn't work very well
Pros:
- Nice glossy look with a big screen. Looks way more expensive than $199
- Map and menu hard buttons are very convenient to have
- GPS reception seems to be as good as the Nuvi. I get reception indoors
- A lot more information is displayed on the map compared to the Nuvi
- Plays AVI movies
- Lane Assist on freeway junctions. A MUST HAVE.
- Maps are very smooth map animation when routing. Much better than the 760, which was always 2 seconds behind and when making turns it would lag for 3-4 seconds
- Voice does not stutter unlike the Nuvi 760
- Very easy to hack and goes from good to almost great after hacking. I also have TomTom Navigator and Garmin XT loaded (more on this later)
- 3D buildings are pretty cool.
- Pairs with my Palm Centro with no problems. My phonebook does not dissapear. BT performance way better than that of the NuviYou can head to avic411.com forums and learn how to modify the Pioneer software aka IGO8 (its very easy). You can also add new maps schemes, and enable speed camera warnings, add extra 3D buildings, load international maps, etc. You can even hack the unit so it runs Tomtom and Garmin XT. However, these 2 don't have the same software as the PND counterparts, so I use the Pioneer software anyways. With the hacks I now get the current house number at my position, so I can easily know which side of the road my destination is on. I also increased the font size of the data displayed on the map. Overall, its a very good deal at $199.

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The Pioneer AVIC-F500BT on-dash navigator offers an advanced, all-in-one solution for adding large-screen navigation, multimedia capability, and hands-free calling to your vehicle ¿ without removing your factory radio. Simply mount this road-ready travel companion on your dashboard and exercise convenient control over your music, phone, and navigation.

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Audiovox Sirius FMDA25 FM Direct Adapter (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how well this product works.
I have an 07 Accord so it was a bit of a PITA figuring out how to get to the radio antenna in the dash. If you google around for your car and "remove radio" you will undoubtedly find directions for accessing it. That was the most difficult part and it only took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.
I recently got the Starmate 4 for my car. I had one of the old original Audiovox units from when Sirius was first starting up. It was huge, bulky, I had lost the mount for it, and it got VERY hot when in operation. Almost so hot that you couldn't touch it. Hence I decided to upgrade to a newer model. When I received and installed the Starmate I was surprised to see that the built-in FM modulator was horrible. And when I connected the FM antenna extender it came with, it made the sound WORSE. The static made it almost unlistenable through my radio. I googled around and found that the FCC had stepped in and regulated the amount of power the FM modulators were allowed to emit. So my Audiovox unit was better in that fashion since it was built before the FCC rules were established.
To fix the problem I got this Wired Relay Adapter. Basically you plug your car's antenna into it, then plug the wire into your radio. The other end routes through your dash and goes into your Sirius radio. The reception is 100% clear now. No more static. The downside is that you have to a) remember to turn off the Sirius radio if you want to listen to FM because it kills all of the stations, and b) regardless of whether it is on or off it kills AM reception. I don't often listen to AM and guess I don't have a need now (except for local TV stations).
All in all I am VERY happy with this product. It took a Starmate that sounded worse than an old Audiovox I had, and made it MUCH better in the end. 100% worth the $19.99 for this item if you have the know-how to get into your dash.

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Tired of relying on your FM transmitter to send your Sirius satellite radiosignal to your car stereo? Turn instead to this wired FM adapter, which provides a directconnection to produce a crisper overall sound. Unlike FM transmitters--which oftensuffer from static and interference, as with traditional FM stations--the FM adapter plugsdirectly into the rear of your factory or after-market stereo, thus requiring a bit ofinstallation expertise. But once connected, you can tune to your favorite Sirius channelsin seconds without searching for unused FM frequencies. More importantly, the signalwill be clean and uninterrupted, with no pops or fizzes as you drive from one part of thecity to another. The FM adapter, which works with all Sirius plug 'n' play and personalradios, includes plugs and wires for most installations, although antenna adapters may berequired for select car stereos. It's also backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Direct FM adapter, plugs and wires, user's manual.

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The New Best Thing Portable Universal AMPD Speaker CUBE for Apple iPhone 3G 16GB, 8GB (AT&T-ATT) Review

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(More customer reviews)Horrible, thin, tin-like sound. Really not worth the money. I got the X-Mini Capsule at the same time and comparing that speaker to this one is like night and day. This is a waste of money unless you like really cheap hollow sound... and want to waste a lot of money on batteries... or lug around something with a USB port to power it. Get the X-Mini II instead, it's great. X-Mini II Capsule Speaker

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SUPER SLIM PORTABLE SPEAKER FOR ALL Apple Music Devices and iPods (Mp3/Mp4/iTunes etc) (ALL CARRIERS) FEATURES * Authentic Portable Speaker * Space saving design * Quality you can take anywhere * On/off switch * LED light indicator for battery status * LED light indicator for on/off status * Plugs into your ipod . * Offers crystal clear audio sound * Works with all ipods and phones with a 2.5mm or 3.5mm headset jack. * Color/style: Black PACKAGE CONTENTS * Portable Speaker * Color Coded 2.5mm to 3.5mm cord * Color coded 2.5mm to 3.5mm cord * Mini USB to USB cable. * Mini USB cable CAN BE USED WITH * All Apple iPods * Mp3/Mp4 Players * Mobile Phones * CD Players * PDA Mp3/Mp4 Enabled Phones * digital amplifier and powerful speaker provide high qualitydigital sound when connected to your music enabled mobilephone, PC or music player. Includes mini USB cable, audiocable and 2.5 to 3.5mm adapter and a wall/travel charger therefore you wont need to buy batteries all the time.. thank you

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Garmin nüvi 295W 3.5-Inch Widescreen Wi-Fi Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)Update: September 17, 2010
After a few months of regular use, I still like this unit fine. My biggest problem with it is that the battery drains so fast when it's turned off. Even if I disable wi-fi and gps, it drains a full charge after one or two days of no use. The battery also takes a long time to charge compared to a phone, camera, or mp3 player.
Update: August 4, 2010
Just returned from a 1,400 mile trip thru KY, TN, NC, & SC. This GPS worked pretty good most of the time, but it can loose it's postition on the map as well as graphic details if you use the zoom, rotate, or other features while in the course of navigating. On some occassions, I'd wait for a few minutes and eventually it would correct itself. Other times I waited, but I had to power cycle the unit to get it back on course. Also, at gas stops and rest stops, it recalculated the route correctly most of the time. Sometimes I'd get off for gas and the GPS would recalculate my route in the opposite direction of the interstate that I just left! The GPS signal was always strong and satelites were always found within 30 seconds.
Regarding the Wi-Fi, it was compatible with the free Wi-Fi at the inn's where I stayed, but if it was a place where you have to pay for Wi-Fi service, this device was not compatible. This was also the case in Las Vegas.
Update: July 12, 2010
Just returned from Las Vegas. This GPS could not even pick up a satelite at all while walking the strip. Not even on the raised pedestrian bridges where I had a huge view of the sky. However, it got a great signal at The Grand Canyon (of course).
Update: July 2,2010
I dock it another star for the false advertising and poor support.
I purchased the add-on 10 dollar cityXplorer map of Las Vegas from Garmin's website. After I downloaded it, I couldn't find any evidence that it was installed. I emailed tech support to find out how I could confirm that it was installed and working. After three days of back and forth email help from their support I was convinced that I was gonna have to call. I called support, waited one hour to talk to a guy who walked me through the same process that I'd already done. He said, I'll see bus routes on my GPS when I get to Vegas. That's the upgrade?
They don't have this unit on hand to work with, and they are using support directions for other units which don't have the same menu's as the 295W. A few hours after talking to the tech, I got an email from Garmin saying that the cityXplorer maps enhanced pedestrian mode is not compatible with this model. They issued me a refund for the Las Vegas map upgrade. This is an advertised function of the GPS that does not work.
My original review:
My 3 year old Tom Tom was swiped from the car, so I was forced to shop for a replacement. This unit caught my eye right away due to the Wi Fi. I am a cheapskate prepaid phone guy, so the idea of smart phone features without the monthly charges sounded good. The family gave me this for Fathers Day and I've had two days to play with it. Here's my impression:
This device feels good. Solid and light. Responsive buttons and touchscreen. Good resolution and contrast. Navigation is simple, and within 20 minutes I had learned the layout of apps, menus and interface as well as configured the personal stuff(home address, wi fi connection, 2 email accounts, home page, and a couple of bookmarks). Very simple. No manual needed. I connected it to the computer and registered it at Garmin's website. Serial number is behind the battery pack, so write it down first. I downloaded the device update which took nearly an hour. The one-time map update refused to install. I downloaded it, went to install and the file was corrupt. tried it again. Same result. Oh well, I'll try later. I grabbed a different vehicle icon and some geotags and downloaded the pdf users manual while at the website, and then copied two albums to the device.
Web Browser - sluggish but effective. I would use it for banking, news, stocks, etc, but I wouldn't do my christmas shopping with it! The + and - zoom buttons work as good as pinching the screen (apple). Wi Fi signal is fair, but will not reach my garage 50 ft. from the router.
MP3 Player - This is a basic MP3 player that has features like repeat, shuffle, playlist, album art, etc. The internal speaker is not made for listening to music. The headphone jack is oddly not standard 3.5mm.
Apps - Nice practical assortment. All I need in a handheld really. The tools are well designed for their specific purpose. Biggest let down is that it can't import calender and contacts. That could save a lot of time! Email app is great.
Navigation - Google Local Search is a brilliant addition to this GPS. It helped me find some lesser known establishments, and provided ratings for restaurants. Satellites are found quickly when outside, but I must be near a window to get a signal if indoors. Route calculation is fast. Voice guidance is clear and surprisingly good at pronouncing tricky street names. It recalculates a wrong turn in seconds.
Mount - The windshield mount has a quick release button that detaches the GPS from the cradle, as well as the suction cup lever that makes it easy to attach/remove from the windshield. This is much nicer than the Tom Tom set up.
Overall I am very pleased with this GPS. It will be great for my basic traveling needs. I think it will be especially nice for exploring a new city pedestrian style. I think that this device will allow me to leave my laptop at home on many trips, while avoiding expensive monthly charges of an iPhone or Droid. I give it four stars because I like it a lot, but there is room for improvement (standard headphone jack, synchronized contacts and calendars, an included case or wrist strap, maps that download correctly)

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nuvi 295W offers a new take on an old favorite with Wi-Fi® connectivity, a 3 MP camera with auto-focus, dual orientation capability and much more.
Dual-orientation with 1-touch navigation

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Sony D-FJ003 CD Walkman with AM/FM Tuner (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted the reliability and quality of a Sony, and a CD player AND radio in one unit was very important to me, but I did not want to pay a lot as not too long ago I had purchased a Panasonic CD player/radio, and the CD player conked out on me pretty rapidly. This Walkman is durable (I have dropped it a few times, and the CD didn't even skip when dropped, and the unit still works wonderfully!). It is also relatively simple to operate. However, I do not like the buttons or display window much. The buttons are hard to press one-handed, and the display is hard to read most of the time. The buttons and display are located on the edge/circumference of the Walkman rather than on the nice, broad top, making it difficult to access them. NEVERTHELESS, if you want a quality Sony product at a good price and you aren't terribly bothered by button or display ergonomics (I am not), this is a Walkman for you. Great value for the money!

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The D-FJ003 CD Walkman from Sony features a stylish, compact, full-circle design. Pop in a disc and enjoy your favorite tunes with the skip-free G-Protection Technology. With this built-in feature, you'll be able to listen to your CDs on the go, without missing a beat, and with CD-R/RW playback, you'll be able to play almost any disc in your music collection.
If you don't want to miss the game or your favorite radio program, Sony has you covered. The D-FJ003 Walkman offers an AM/FM tuner and features programming for 20 FM and 10 AM preset stations. Program your favorite stations, or simply tune in to the right band, and you'll be ready for radio on the go.
This Walkman features eight different playback modes. You can rock out to single track over and over; reorder the tracks of your favorite CD for a personal touch, or mix it up, listening to tracks at random. You can also pump up the bass with the Digital Mega Bass sound. You'll be surprised by the deep, rich bass tones and the low harmonic distortion.
The new clip style headphones wrap elegantly around your ears, holding the small earbuds in place. Best of all, this Walkman will provide you over 12 hours of continuous playback with only two AA batteries.
You'll look flashy and stylish with the gloss black color and contemporary design. Clip one to your belt today and accent your outfit with the Sony D-FJ003 CD Walkman.
What's in the Box Sony D-FJ003 CD Walkman with AM/FM Tuner (black) and one pair clip-style headphones.

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Maxell P-18 Portable Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)You get exactly what you pay for - cheap speakers. A plastic cover is already broken off and sound is very poor. Cheap price = cheap speakers.

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Designed to fit comfortably in a backpack or laptop bag without sacrificingsound quality, the Maxell P-18 portable speakers are the perfect accessory for on-the-gomusic fans. The speakers, which fold up into a compact footprint for travel, feature suchaudio essentials as a built-in digital amplifier, neodymium magnet drivers, a patentedreflecting panel structure, and an acoustic speaker cabinet that provides an optimal basesound. Add up the variety of features and you have a crisp, rich-sounding speakersystem that's great for backyard barbecues, hanging out at a friend's house, or loungingat the park. The P-18 is also versatile enough to work with virtually any portable audioplayer, including iPods, MP3 players, CD players, DVD players, laptops, and more. Allyou need is a device with a 3.5 mm headphone jack and you're set.
The speakers are powered by one of three methods: USB (cable included), AC adapter(not included), or four AA batteries (not included). The latter method is the best foroutdoor use, as the P-18 runs for more than 40 hours on a single set of batteries. Best ofall, the system checks in at less than 1-1/4 pounds, so it won't weigh you down whentraveling. The P-18 speaker system is backed by a 90-day warranty.
What's in the Box P-18 speaker system, USB cable, 3.5 mm audio cable, user's manual.

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AudioTechnica AT-SP21 Folding Compact Portable Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)I received a set of these speakers as part of a corporate gift bag. I've used them for at least two years and they just gave out on me. Just logged on here to buy another pair. I travel a bit for work and I have found these to be a perfect solution for listening to my tunes in the car and the hotel without having to worry about carrying the right adapters, having batteries, etc. The sound isn't great but I listen to podcasts a lot (spoken word) and they work just fine for that purpose. I'm buying another pair if that tells you what I think of them. Can't beat the price.

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These compact portable speakers fold together for easy portability. Enjoy your music or share it with others by inserting the speakers’ mini plug into the headphone jack of your portable player or computer. No batteries or AC connection required, since the speakers are powered from your audio device.

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Portable Universal Ampd Speaker Cube for All Phones, Computers, Laptops, Mp3, Mp4 Players All Apple Ipods and Iphones and Also Compatible with RIM Blackberry 9530 Storm / 9500 Thunder / 9000 Bold / 8900 Curve / 8830 / 8820 / 8800 / 8703 / 8703e / 8700 / 8350i Curve / 8330 Curve / 8320 Curve / 8310 Curve / 8300 Curve / 8220 Pearl Flip / 8130 Pearl / 8120 Pearl / 8110 Pearl / 8100 Pearl / 7780 / 7750 / 7730 / 7520 / 7510 / 7290 / 7280 / 7250 / 7230 / 7210 / 7130g / 7130e / 7130c / 7100i / 7105 / 7 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for my Blackberry Curve 8350i, but it makes a horrible squealing sound when I plug it in.
I had to buy another adapter, since the speaker had none that would successfully connect to my mobile.
I tried it on an old Sony Ericsson P910, and it works fine. Just NOT COMPATIBLE WITH BLACKBERRY 8350i.

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* SUPER SLIM PORTABLE SPEAKER FOR ALL PHONES Mp3/Mp4 (ALL CARRIERS) * Stand plug * USB adapter * Adapter for all Mobile phones * User's manual * Wall/Travel Charger so you wont need to buy batteries all the time. FEATURES * Authentic Portable Speaker * Space saving design * Quality you can take anywhere * On/off switch * LED light indicator for battery status * LED light indicator for on/off status * Plugs into your computer or you cab use it with batteries. * Offers crystal clear audio sound * Works with all phones and phones with a 2.5 mm or 3.5 mm headset jack. * Mobile phone has to be a Music Player in order for the speakers to work * Color/style: Black PACKAGE CONTENTS * Portable Speaker * Color Coded 2.5mm to 3.5mm cord * Color coded 2.5mm to 3.5mm cord * Mini USB to USB cable. * Mini USB cable CAN BE USED WITH * Mp3/Mp4 Players * Mobile Phones * CD Players * PDA Mp3/Mp4 Enabled Phones * digital amplifier and powerful speaker provide high quality digital sound when connected to your music enabled mobile phone, PC or music player. Includes mini USB cable, audio cable and 2.5 to 3.5mm adapter and a wall/travel charger therefore you wont need to buy batteries all the time.. thank you

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Samsung YX-M1Z Helix XM2go Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I am new to the XM/satellite radio world so I don't have any legacy relative value issues compared to past or competing XM radios (e.g., FM transmitters). I can only describe my view of this product on its own merits...and I must say I've been thoroughly impressed. Browsing channels and listening to stations is easy as can be, the content is pretty solid, and the moreover, this Samsung unit looks good and works well. It is a VERY hassle free way of discovering and saving new music.
I can't get enough of the feature where if you're listening to a song or program, at any time you can hold the center button for a second and it will record the entire song (since the beginning!) and save it to memory, for listening later. It's a great way to build a library! Never again do I have to hear a song on the radio and try to guess what song it is and hope that maybe I can buy the album later. With this, I've got a pure digital copy on here, ready to go on what is effectively my portable music player!
Only drawback is that, as a satellite radio, I find that you do need reasonable access to the sky to get a signal (it starts to cut out about five to ten feet away from a window, for example). So I can't use this in the middle of a giant office building (read: my workplace). But, when I'm home the "home antenna" is connected to the docking cradle. Once in the cradle, it's plug and play and I never worry about reception. Also, I can have it record programs and whatnot for listening later...kinda like a Tivo.

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Finally, a portable device that lets you play live XM radio content. That's right, wherever you roam the Samsung Helix lets you tap into more than 150 channels of satellite radio. It's a big step forward for XM radio lovers, but there's more. With the Helix, you can combine live XM radio with your personal digital music collection (MP3s and WMA). This means you can enjoy your own music library while being exposed to all the new music and content that XM radio has to offer.
So how did they get a complete satellite receiver into a device that measures 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches? By using an advanced satellite/terrestrial internal antenna that allows the device to receive signals from anywhere. The device is light, too, weighing in at just 4.5 ounces. The unit's full-color, 180 x 180 TFT display, as well as a user-friendly interface, make it easy to save and delete content. In addition to making it easy to find the music you want to listen to quickly, the interface lets you build your own playlists right on the device that consist of XM radio content and your own digital music. Another cool feature is the Helix's built-in memory buffer, which allows you to save an entire XM radio song even if you decide to save it in the middle of the song. The Helix's internal memory supports up to 50 hours of saved content.
Featuring a full array of programming -- from talk shows, comedy programs, and live Major League Baseball broadcasts to just about every musical genre from bluegrass to jazz -- XM Radio is the fastest growing satellite radio network in the world. All XM metadata is displayed on the Helix's display, including full song title and artist name, as well as information extras such as stock and sports score tickers. The device also sports a category list for saving and accessing favorite channels. Another great feature of the Helix is TuneSelect, which alerts you when one of your favorite artists or songs is being played on an XM channel. Plus, the Helix supports the XM + Napster music service. If you hear a song you like on XM radio, simply "tag" it and easily purchase and download that artist or song via Napster. It's a great way to discover and own the music you like. And last, but certainly not least, the Helix features an integrated wireless FM transmitter so you can beam XM content to any FM radio frequency, making it very easy to listen to XM content on any home or car stereo.
What's in the Box YX-M1Z XM radio/MP3 player, battery, earbuds, remote control, home dock/cradle, home XM antenna, AC power adapter, travel power cable, RCA audio cable, USB cable, carrying case/holster, user's guide, and software CD-ROM.

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