Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic & Lifetime Map Updates

There is nothing that makes me more anxious and nervous than driving or walking into strange towns; having to drive through unfamiliar roads in high traffic and not really knowing where to make that next turn. It is my nightmare. I am sure this holds true for million others. May be even you.

Many gadgets and applications have been devised to help us navigate our ways even in strangest of places. Thanks to GPS (Global Positioning System).

A lot of GPS devices are on the market today and coming up with the right one can be challenging. I came across this one on the internet, the Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic & Lifetime Map Updates.

I looked at its customer reviews and its specifications. I loved it.

The Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T comes with quite interesting features and preloaded with City Navigator NT North America (U.S. and Canada).

Lane Assist and Junction View:   The feature will guide you through to the proper lane both on surface streets and freeways. It will also display road signs and junctions on your route. This makes it easy to for you to correct lanes well in time for an approaching turn or exit. The Lane Assist with junction View is available only in select metropolitan cities.

The Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T is also enhanced for pedestrian navigation capacities. With an optional download of cityXplorer you will be able to navigate your way through a select number of cities in North America and Europe as a pedestrian; able to find your way to public subways and bus station.

Speed Limit Warning:  The Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T comes fitted with speed limit warning mechanism. This feature works provided the system has the speed limit information on the particular road. This is an added safety feature that keeps you constantly in check with your speed.

Free lifetime map and traffic updates:   You will be able to have map updates 4 times a year. This ensures that your GPS is working on latest maps. However, traffic information is automatically updated constantly. The traffic information can help you plan your drive better.

MSN Direct Compatible:   This allows you to have direct access to dynamic MSN traffic data. Just add the GDB 55 receiver for MSN Direct and MSN will directly broadcast traffic data to your GPS navigator. This will make it possible for you to check traffic flow and receive accident warnings, making it easy to choose the best route to your destination.

Integrated Bluetooth Wireless Technology:  This makes it possible for the user to make hands free calls. All you have to do is pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and you would be able to dial your contacts on the nüvi touchscreen keypad to make a call.

Touchscreen Display:   The most prominent feature on the Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T is its 4.3-Inch display that offers clear, bright, and big enough picture. Map details and driving directions are clearly readable on the sunlight-readable display. The display is readable even in bright sunlight.

Turn by Turn Directions:   The Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T is able to give you voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. You can get your directions in either 2D or 3D mapping.

ecoRoute:    The feature will calculate and show you the most fuel-efficient route and track your fuel usage. It is able to give you estimated cost for trips as well as give you mileage and fuel reports.

Emergency Locator:    For those times when you are completely lost, the emergency locator is just what you may need. The Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T HotFix satellite prediction, can calculate your position to give your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. It will also give you the nearest address and intersection, the closest police stations, hospitals, and even fuel stations.

Other features:  The Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T has other miscellaneous features ideal for travelers. It has a world travel clock with time zones, calculator, currency converter, measurement converter, and the JPEG picture viewer.

Everything has its downside for someone somewhere, and the Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T is no exception. Here are some of its cons I have come across from various users.

Search feature in phonebook:  As much as you can access your phonebook in the Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T when it is hooked up with your phone in Bluetooth mode, you cannot make a contact search in the phonebook.
That being the case you may just have to scroll down to the contact or simply disable the Bluetooth connection to search and make the call from the phone.

Few Map updates:   Some feel that the 4 updates per year are not sufficient enough to rely on.

I would say there is a downside to everything. One can only balance up the pros and cons to come up with better judgment.

I believe the Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T is a plus, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a GPS that is able to meet expectations of many. More so that it is under $200.

Am confident you will not regret buying it now right here: Garmin nüvi 1390/1390T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic & Lifetime Map Updates.

Sole F80 Treadmill (2011 Model)

In the past week I have been on the internet as usual, trying to see what would interest me and just may be interest you too. I was looking and browsing through loads and loads of treadmill brands, prices, and previews. Comparing and contrasting!

I was trying to come up with a perfect treadmill for those of you who are enthusiastic, or is it cautious, about their fitness.

The variety was overwhelming. So I turned to reading through various treadmill reviews and forums. At the end of it all, the Sole F80 Treadmill (2011 Model) stood out of the rest in both performance and price.

The Sole F80 Treadmill is designed for anyone looking for style, value and durability. It is a great machine even for moderate to athletic runners. The 2011 model comes about $100 cheaper than its predecessor (2009-2010 model). For $1,499.99 the Sole F80 continues to be the most popular and best selling mid-range treadmill in the $1,000-2,000 bracket both at Amazon.com and other online stores.

The Sole F80 2011 model comes with an extended deck (5 Inches longer than its predecessor) and an enhanced 7.5 Inch display. Sole is still offering a lifetime warranty on the motor, frame, and deck, 2 years on labor, and 5 years on the electronics.

Let’s have a look at Sole F80 Treadmill (2011 Model) features and functions:

a.   3.0 Horsepower Continuous Duty Motor: The treadmill comes   powered up with a 3.0 horsepower continuous duty motor and a relatively heavier all-steel zinc coated balanced flywheel. This gives the Sole F80 a secure, quiet, and vibration free running/walking surface. The powerful motor can give challenging speeds of up to 11MPH.

b.   Easy Assist Folding Deck Design:  The Easy Assist folding deck design is ideal for those who lack the space to permanently put their treadmill on. The treadmill measures 33 x 80 inches (W x D) and weighs 250 pounds. This feature couldn’t be any handier. It allows you to easily release the deck and watch it gently unfold itself to the ground. When you are done with your workout, just fold it up and stack it away.

c.    Cushion Flex Shock Absorption System:  The whisper-quiet cushion flex deck system is designed to absorb your running or walking shocks on the deck thereby reducing the impact to your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine. Researchers say that it reduces the impact by up to 40% as compared to running on asphalt. This makes it ideal for regular runners or those with related injuries. The deck has the capacity of up to 350 pounds.

d.   Six standard workouts, two custom workouts:  This feature comes with a preset 6 standard and 2 custom workout programs. It allows you to workout with the 6 automatic programs or customize the other 2 to your specific needs. It also comes with a wireless chest strap that monitors your heart rate up to the second. The chest strap monitor is said to be 99.9% accurate.

e.   7.5-inch LCD Display:  The display plays a vital role in the users’ workout program. It is through this screen that you are able to track your workout progress. The display includes windows for distance covered, incline, speed, time, pace, pulse, and calories.

f.     Integrated Message Board:  The Integrated Message feature can walk you through the treadmills’ features or through the workout program itself. When you are done with the workout the message board will recap your workout routine for you to see your “workout to workout” progress.

g.   Integrated Sound System:  This makes it possible for you to listen to your MP3 or iPod while you are on the workout. Simply plug in your audio source into the jack on the left side of the console. You will have to control the volume from the audio source though.

In my research I found out that many people in fitness programs attest to the fact that this treadmill has fantastic features way above the mid-range category that it can easily fit in the high-end category.

At $1,499.99, you will be buying this treadmill with a full Sole F80 warranty which is way above standard industry warranties, and at far much less than what you would pay on different brands which could sell for well over $2,000 with similar features.

Downside

A drawback on this treadmill many be its top speed of about 11MPH which some intense runners say is on the lower side. Despite having a 3.0 HP motor, those who are looking for robust workout find the 11MPH lacking in that regard. Otherwise the speed is fine for an average and casual workout. It is also worth noting that the Sole F80 is a domestic treadmill, not so much on the commercial side.

Secondly, the price is on the prohibitive side for many who are looking for a casual workout treadmill. The $1,499.99 price is generally on the higher side for most consumers.

Other than that the Sole F80 is an ideal treadmill for almost anyone.

I am sure you would come to the same conclusion as mine if you researched further. In the mid-range treadmill category, and for under $1,500, the Sole F80 is the best you can find. Otherwise you may just end up paying well over $2,000 on a different brand with similar features.

You can buy the Sole F80 right now and right here: Sole F80 Treadmill (2011 Model)

Have you found this helpful?

Your comment is most welcome!

Canon FS400 Flash Memory Camcorder with 41x Advanced Zoom and Dual SDXC Card Slots (Silver)

First of all, the Canon FS400 is not a High Definition camcorder but a Standard Definition one. It is basically designed for non professional projects such as vacations and kids events.

I must admit I am impressed by its size and design. It is small, lightweight, compact, and sleek. It easily fits in ones palm and its control panel is easily accessible.

The Canon FS400 ranges between $240 and $350 to buy. Which I believe is a fair deal compared to what it comes along with.

Take a look at these features.

v  Sleek, Ultra-Compact and Lightweight:   The camera weighs only 7.8 oz, 2.1” wide, 2.3” high and 4.8” deep. This makes it easy to carry the camcorder anywhere you go without worrying about the weight. In my world that is indeed compact.

v  Grid Marker:     This is a feature that lets you make more accurate shots. Using grids markers you are able to correctly position your camcorder so that you are able to record exactly what you want. The grid markers come in two different colors to choose from, ensuring that you are able to see them no matter what the background color of your shot is.

v  Connectivity:    The Canon FS400 can easily be connected to either your TV or computer quite easily. It has an A/V mini-terminal which you can easily hook up to your television to directly view your recorded videos. It is also equipped with a USB port which makes direct transfer of your videos and photos to your computer for editing or online sharing so easy.

It is also compatible with Eye-Fi SD memory card. With the card inserted in the SD card slot on the camcorder, it is possible to wirelessly transfer your videos and photos to your computer, or even further, with a correctly configured computer you are able to upload them directly to target online sharing sites (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Shutterfly ).

v  Level Marker Feature:   The feature makes it easy to keep your camcorder in a level position. You just line up any horizontal lines in your shot- such as the horizon- to the marker and you can be sure that your camcorder is level.

v  Spotlight Mode:     The spotlight mode is just what it is! For those spotlight moment shots you would want to capture. This feature gets the best of those moments.

v  Flicker Reduction:    Artificial light sources usually come with one disadvantage of flickering; especially when shooting in the night or in other low light situations. The Canon FS400 has this Flicker Reduction feature which, with a setting available, is able to minimize the effect of pulsing of light sources which is more common in fluorescent lit environments.

v  Built-In Electronic Lens Cover:  There is nothing more annoying as having to constantly open and close the lens cover of your camera when recording. The Canon FS400 comes equipped with a Built-In Electronic Lens Cover. What is simply means is that turn your camcorder on, the lens cover automatically opens. Turn it off, and the cover closes. A great feature I think.

v  Built-In Video Light:      Through a built-In video light mechanism, the camera is able to internally provide just the right amount of light to your video thus improving the quality of videos shot in low light conditions.

v  Program AE:      This is what makes the Canon FS400 what it is. It gives you the best exposure settings for different conditions and subjects automatically. The portrait mode ensures shallow depth of field for a pleasing background to your shots of friends and family. The sports mode stops the action with faster shutter speeds. A new night scene mode is designed to give you more accurate and natural shots in very low light conditions by reducing noise and preventing the overexposure of building and street lighting. The snow and beach modes compensate for bright surroundings and give you the proper exposure on your subjects. The sunset mode results in vibrant, well-exposed colors for one of the toughest subjects to capture.

v  Fireworks Mode:      As the name can tell, the fireworks mode is basically made for brilliant color subjects. More especially on such occasions as fireworks displays.

v  Low Light Mode:       This feature allows you to record your videos even in low lit environments. In this mode you can shoot your videos in situations where you have as little as 1.3 lux of available illumination when you do not want to add additional light.

v  Advanced Video Snapshot:        This feature lets you shoot short movie clips the same way you would shoot snapshots with your digital camera. You are able to create 2, 4, or 8-second video clips which can be played back in the camcorder with background music. You will also be able to capture clips in playback, making it more convenient than ever to use this feature. This can be a perfect way to document your vacation in a quick, easy, entertaining series of clips which are perfect for internet sharing. This feature is complemented by a music CD containing royalty-free soundtracks that comes with the camcorder.

v  Pre Record:        I think this feature gives you a head start on your recordings every time. The feature places the camera in a stand-by “pre-roll” mode. What happens is that the camera is continuously recording 3 seconds of video to memory before you even press the record button. As it starts to record, the three seconds of video is recorded too. So that gives you a 3 seconds head start to every action you want to record.

v  Widescreen HR:     This camera uses the Canons’ sophisticated image processing system which uses the entire width of the image sensor which makes it possible to capture and record true 16:9 High Resolution Widescreen. The additional pixels captured deliver better image quality.

v  Quick Charge:   One time or another anyone with a camcorder will find themselves in a situation where they have to quickly charge the camera or miss the action. The quick charge feature has been designed for such situations. This feature is able to give the camera some extra life to make you see the occasion through.  With this feature, put the camera on charge for 10 minutes and you will get approximately 30 minutes of life in it. 20 minutes will give you approximately an hour of power. I feel this is a great feature.

v  Quick Start:   It can be quite frustrating to be manually switching between record and standby modes when recording. With the Canon FS400 this hustle is eliminated by the quick start feature. When the LCD panel is closed the camera automatically goes into the standby mode, and when the actions starts just flip open the panel and off you start recording instantly. No hustle of fidgeting with buttons to start recording the action. You just don’t lose time with this feature.

v  Superb Image Quality:   The picture quality is great for a standard definition camera. The high quality picture is attributed to the 680,000 pixel CCD Image Sensor and the Canon DIGIC DV II Image Processor it uses to process  all that you are capturing to give out a perfect lifelike picture.  It is worth mentioning that the Canon DIGIC DV II Image Processor is among the most advanced in video technologies.

v  The Shock Resistant feature:   This feature, which I would not want to prove anyway, is another advantage to this camera. Minor accidents and knocks do happen and very much likely your camera may slip or knock against something. Should that happen that is where the shock resistant feature may prove helpful. Firstly its compact design will greatly reduce breakage risk. Secondly, the Flash Memory Storage system it uses minimizes captured data lose and makes data recovery easy.

v  The Wide Screen LCD:  This is also another feature that fits the camera perfectly. The 2.7” and 112,000 dot screen gives a satisfactorily bright and clear picture detail which is big and wide enough that you can do your video editing right on the camcorder. The location of the control buttons on the screen is equally convenient.

v  The Pixela Video Browser Software:    This is another thumb up feature on this camera.  First of all this software allows you to edit your videos right from the camcorder if you want to. You can combine, reorder, trim, and combine scenes. This powerful software can also make it possible for you to add transitions, music and titles to your videos. Directly uploading your videos to the internet should not be a problem with this software.

v  Dynamic IS:   The Dynamic Image Stabilizer makes your video recordings smooth, stable and steady even you are moving. This feature provides continuous adjustment throughout the entire zoom range to correct a broader range of motion that may be caused by the movement of the cameraman. In comparison to conventional electronic image stabilization systems, extra compensation is applied at wide-angle focal lengths to eliminate those unwanted vibrations that are common when walking.

v  Intelligent Lithium-Ion Battery:   This power system accurately tracks remaining battery life as well as giving you a display in minutes remaining before the battery goes dead. You are then able to plan your shooting better so that you are not caught out with a battery that suddenly goes from half to empty. A great feature I think.

In brief that is what the Canon FS400  all in all a good camera compared to other brands in its category. I usually do not compare different brands because honestly speaking we are all “predisposed” to certain brands regardless.

So if you are “predisposed” to Canon cameras, and looking for a budget friendly sophisticated, yet simple camcorder that can perform just as good, then the Canon FS400 is your best buy! My friend bought his at $350, but you can get it at much less here Canon FS400 Flash Memory Camcorder with 41x Advanced Zoom and Dual SDXC Card Slots (Silver)

LG Infinia 55LV5500 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV

It is funny just how far television has come from! From the black and white carton box like cathode ray tube televisions of yesteryears, to the plasma, LCD and now to the cutting edge LED televisions of today.

The new LG Infinia 55LV5500 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV has really caught my attention is year. Firstly, it is feature rich, and secondly it is comparably cheaper. I went over to the LG dealership store in my area to know what it is about this LG Infinia 55LV5500. I will try to mention all the features which were demonstrated to me. If I leave out one or two, you may just have to discover, or is it read about them in the manual.

The LG Infinia 55LV5500 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV comes with state-of-the-art technological features.

KEY TECHNOLOGIES

LED:     It s is “the in thing” in today’s television technology. The screen of the Infinia 55LV5500 has evolved from the now common LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) to the new LED (Light Emitting Diode) display. The LG’s LED technology provides it with a slim profile, and delivers amazing brightness, clarity and color detail for those dark scenes or dull colors. This technology makes it have greater energy efficiency compared to conventional LCD TVs.

TRUMOTION 120HZ:  This feature adapts your television to fast moving objects on the screen such as sports, video games and high-speed action, there by virtually eliminating any motion blur.

INTERNET-READY DEVICE:     The LG Infinia 55LV5500 comes broadband enabled and all you need is just to plug in your WiFi USB stick. So if you are WiFi Ready and have existing wireless broadband then connecting and setting up this television to online content is easy and there will be no worries about messy wires everywhere. This feature allows you to access dynamic content from the internet directly to your television.  Be it Netflix, Pandora Music, Video streaming, facebook , Youtube, Google, and a lot more. It should however be noted that these application may come as free or paid up services depending on the providers.

Besides the above key technology feature, the television is also loaded with other features. The other additional features which come with the LG Infinia 55LV5500 are:

INNOVATIVE MOTION-SENSING REMOTE:  The LG Infinia 55LV5500 comes with a smart way of controlling it; a five button remote control. This Magic Motion remote is easy to use, with intuitive point-and-click control.

CUSTOMIZABLE DASHBOARD:          This makes it possible for you to put all your TV entertainment-from the applications to streaming video to live TV-all in one place. Not just in one place but also be able customize them, just the way you want them arranged.

VIEW IT IN THE RIGHT LIGHT:            Using its Intelligent Sensor, the LG Infinia 55LV5500 is able to automatically optimize the picture to the lighting and color conditions in the room for a more enjoyable viewing experience. Unless you really just want to do it yourself, your television can do it for you.

MAKE DIGITAL DEVICES COMPATIBLE:        To build a digital network, you need digital devices obviously. But unless those devices are compatible, it won’t be much of a network. DLNA Certified devices work together. This television works well and is compatible with DLNA Certified devices.

SAVE MORE THAN ENERGY:             The LG Infinia 55LV5500 is ENERGY STAR qualified. What Earning the ENERGY STAR means is that a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. For televisions it means they save energy both in standby and active (when they are on) modes. The ENERGY STAR-qualified televisions use about 30% less energy than standard units.

WISE AND NOT WASTEFUL:              With the LG Infinia 55LV5500 Smart Energy Saving feature you can conserve money and energy.  Imagine just how much you could serve on electricity bills!

FIND THE PERFECT PICTURE:             This feature offers you easy self-calibration with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements such as black level, color, tint, sharpness, and backlight level. This simple-to-use feature removes the guess work out of picture adjustments. It’s not actually magic, but it will sure seem that way.

DOUBLE THE DETAIL:             The LG Infinia 55LV5500’s almost double the pixel resolutions’ full HD1080p gives it superior picture quality over standard HDTV. This results in its stunningly clear and superior quality picture.

ISFCCC READY:           LG’s ISFCCC Ready HDTVs contain the detailed standards necessary for professional calibration of brightness, contrast, tint, sharpness, color levels and much more to meet local lighting conditions for both day time and night time viewing. Settings are added to preset modes for easy access from your LG remote.

Honestly speaking I was taken by these features as well as just the mere design of this television. So as usual I turned to my best companion, the internet, to find out the bad and the good about the LG Infinia 55LV5500 being said by those who have the privilege of owning one already.

I came up with just two “bad” issues about it, depending on how you see it anyway.

A few, actually one person, was mentioning about seeing too much of their own reflection on the screen at an angle when sitting across their living room window. I can only say that so far no television has been able to completely eliminate this natural phenomenon. At angle and sitting across a living room window, any TV, LG or any other, will to some degree have a reflection. The best you can do is finding the best spot for your LG Infinia 55LV5500 in your living room where you can avoid the reflections. Or better still draw your curtains to block the light. That’s my personal view.

The second issue is with its apparently low sound output. Yet again this may just be a matter of personal preference. Others would not mind the apparently low sound output especially that it is for family viewing and most likely will be in the living room. For those who would want extra sound output I am sure your TV man can hook up the LG Infinia 55LV5500 with your Home Theater and the results will be satisfactory.

Other than the two negatives above, many of those who have bought the LG Infinia 55LV5500 are more than happy with their purchase.

The design, slim profile, and the cutting edge technology features the LG Infinia 55LV5500 comes with; and for just under $1,400, is why I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking to buying themselves the latest, yet big enough 55” LED TV.

The LG Infinia 55LV5500 is going for around $1,400 on most online stores but you can get it for much less here. LG Infinia 55LV5500 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV

I will keep you posted on the LG Infinia 55LV5500.