Friday, January 18, 2013

Accessorise Padded Neoprene 7 Inch Tablet Zip Sleeve Case Cover with Built-in Landscape / Portrait Viewing Stand

I tested Accessorise Neoprene Sleeve with our two tablets: 7" Nexus Galaxy tablet and 7.7" Samsung Galaxy tablet. I also compared this case with the cases that are currently in use with the tablets prior to this case. I am attaching a collage of 7 photos that I will be referencing in this review.





The first thing I noticed about this sleeve that it is well constructed: the zippers operated very smoothly, all seams are finished well, there are no loose threads or blemishes. The case comes with a wrist band which can be optionally attached with a spring lock.



The sleeve's size is 9" by 6.25". It is made out of neoprene. I typically think of neoprene sleeves as being soft and pliable, however this case is made out of two layers of neoprene with plastic insert between them, so it is fairly stiff with some flex it in. It provides more protection than a single layer of neoprene. The inside layer of neoprene has round bumps which provide a big of extra cushion. The inside of the case is best seen in photo #2.



The outside of the case has a 5.5" by 3.37" compartment with an opening which is a slit. The slit has no closure mechanism. This compartment is best to carry something that can be clipped to it (like a pen or a stylus), or perhaps a cord that would stretch it and thus stay in. This slit is visible in the photo #3, it looks like a blue line in the photo which shows the top of the case.



The dimensions of this sleeve are such that it fits both of our tablets: the smaller 7" Nexus tablet as well as the larger 7.7" Samsung Galaxy Tablet. In fact, I was able to fit 7.7 Samsung Galaxy not only "naked" but also while it was in its leather case Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Leather Folio Case . It fits quite nicely and snugly into the case either "naked" or with the case.



Photo #1 and Photo #2 show the 7.7" Galaxy tablet on top and inside of the sleeve so you can see the fit.



Photo #3 and Photo #4 demonstrate the 7" Nexus tablet fit. The photos show the Kroo sleeve and Accessorise sleeve next to each other, with the tablet on top of each in turn. 



Kroo Neoprene Sleeve Case

by comparison is made out of one neoprene layer. The fit of the Kroo sleeve is snug, the fit of the Accessorise sleeve is a bit loose. This is generally not a problem, unless you want the tablet to fit into your pocket. My husband likes carrying Nexus 7 in his pockets (jacket pocket or even pants pocket). Photo #6 and photo #7 demonstrate how he inserts the sleeves into his pocket - Kroo sleeve goes in without any issues. Accessorise sleeve does not fit.

  

Photo #5 shows how the sleeve can be used as a stand. There was no documentation to explain how the sleeve can be used as a stand, it took a bit of guessing to figure out that the tabs were meant to be spread out and used to hold up the device. It worked, but I have to say that I did not feel secure about leaving the tablet under flexed tension of the sides for a long time. I would not want to risk to have the tablet pop out of it, and I was not sure how the case will hold up if it was flexed for a long time.



We decided that the sleeve is a better fit for the 7.7" tablet than the 7" tablet. I like using my tablet while it is in its leather folio case a bit of extra protection, so I have been using the neoprene case to carry the tablet (by its wrist band) while it is in its leather folio.



Overall, I liked the case but I did not like the stand mechanism. Double neoprene layer construction provides more protection than a typical one layer neoprene case at the cost of being slightly bigger and thicker.



I was provided an evaluation copy of the Accessorise Neoprene Sleeve Case for testing and review. I described both positives and negatives of my experience with the sleeve in this review. I hope you found my comments, measurements and photos helpful. If you have any questions I have not addressed I am always happy to answer comments.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★☆



Wednesday, January 16, 2013

2 DVD set Les Miserables: 10th Anniversary Dream Cast (2012)





I received this DVD a day after watching the movie "Les Miserable". While the movie was fresh in my mind I was eager to hear the the musical production. I can tell you that I enjoyed the signing on the DVD significantly more than the signing in the movie. This is not all that surprising since the 10th Anniversary Concert features the top stars from both the London and Broadway productions. The concert was performed on October 8, 1995 and brought together over 250 best performers from various worldwide productions. The finale features 17 'Valjeans' from productions around the world singing in their native languages.



This set includes two DVD disks (one with the concert, one with the extras about the process of making the concert), 12 page commemorative booklet which includes several photographs from the concert, and a replica of the ticket to the London after party. I am attaching a collage of two photos which show the DVD set opened with the entire content visible.



I'm very grateful to BBC Worldwide for sending me a sample copy of this DVD for review purposes. The timing of getting it was perfect, it allowed me to enjoy the cinematography of the movie and then to enjoy the music and singing of this DVD even more. I am not compelled to see the movie again, but I already listened to this DVD several times and undoubtedly will enjoy it again.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★







Monday, January 14, 2013

Evriholder IOM-FNL Iron on Mat with Funnel

In my spare time I am a quilter, so my ironing board in the study is always out with the iron is on it. I also use my ironing board for doing art layouts as it allows me to do so without bending down (important because of my back problems). Since I am around my ironing board a lot I have knocked down the iron to the floor quite a few times. Not good for the iron (had to replace at least one iron) and not good for the floor (have a gouge in the wood floor).



I have tried several iron rests, which improved things but did not totally resolve the problem until I bought this silicone iron rest pad.



Not only the silicone iron rest pad is heat resistant, it is non-slip. Since the iron sits on it with the business side down (not its end) it is very stable, it is pretty impossible to knock down. As an added bonus the pad is water proof, so when you use steam and iron has water in it, if a little of it leaks out it stays on the pad. I am attaching a collage of two photos. In the photos you can see the pad with my iron on it in two different orientations, so you can see how it fits.



The pad size is 14.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches. It weights 2.4 ounces



This iron pad is designed to resist hot temperatures for short periods of time only. The warning on the package says that it should not be used with temperatures of over 500 F (260 C) even for short period of times. It also warns not to use it if the pad gets cuts or pierced. The pad itself does get heated up with a hot iron on it, so let it cool off before handling. One of the pad ends has a funnel that is normally collapsed and flat. It can be used to make it easier to add water to the iron without spills. I have not found much use for this feature although the funnel does pop out nicely and does fit into the opening. This product is made in China.



Overall, I am very pleased - a very inexpensive solution to a really annoying problem.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★



Saturday, January 12, 2013

RHA SA950i On-Ear Portable Headphones with Remote - Titanium Speakers - 3 year warranty RHA SA950i On-Ear Portable Headphones with Remote

RHA MA-350 produce good rich sound.  I found bass as well as high frequencies to be very good listening to classical music.  I also tried it with audio books and they produce very clear voice sound as well.



The headphones fit comfortably and snugly on my (fairly small) head.  My head is 14" (measuring from the center of one ear to the center of the other ear over the head). To help you determine if they are a good fit for your head I am including detailed measurements of the headband.  The headphones leather band is 9" (measured on the inside, the part that touches the head). The adjustment mechanism can be expanded from 7/8" to 2" on each side.  The total head band can be adjusted from 13.5 inches to 16 inches (measuring from the center of one headphone to the other, where the band connects to the headphones, on the inside).



I am attaching a collage of 2 photos (that can be located by following customer photos link under the main photo) which shows the close-up of the adjustment mechanism.  The adjustment mechanisms are the chrome-colored bars which are between the headband the earphones.



The cups of the earphones are 2.75" by 2.25".  The leather is very soft and cushy. They formed a comfortable and good seal on my ears.



I really liked the cord it comes with. It has volume control built into the cord which I found very convenient, and cable is covered with corded fabric which produced no echo in the headphone when it rubbed against something.  I also found that the cord did not tangle as much as my other cords.  The cord is 61 inches long.



The headphone plus the cord weight is 4.2 oz, and I found that I could wear them in a noisy office all day without getting tired.



I received an evaluation copy of RHA SA950i On-Ear headphones to write a comprehensive and unbiased review and I hope the measurements and photos will help you in your buying decision.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★



Wednesday, August 26, 2009

What To Expect From MP3 speakers?

mp3 speakers
You will have great advantages when you are buying MP3 player, because you have the opportunity sharing great quality music with others without burning a hole in your pocket. However, you should make sure you have the speakers that are most suited for your needs if you buy any of mp3 speakers.

In fact, there are several companies that make MP3 player speakers that can be attached to your player and get more listening pleasure, although MP3 players do not come with their own speakers and normally give people to listening to music through ear buds. They are also more convenient and provide quality music listening pleasure as well with not having to fumble about for CDs and cassettes. These players give revolutionizing indeed the way of people to listen the music today.

To share music with family, you are helped by portable speakers. You will get to enjoy a different music experience at one that you can share with others, whether you choose the portable version or the normal MP3 speakers. Just make sure that you always charge the speakers’ batteries, so you won’t let them die on you. Without being glued to it, you can listen to music from your player with the help of these speakers. So, you are going to get appreciating the greater convenience that is offered by it to you to allow you listening to music loud and clear.

In which a unit that is shaped like a cylindrical cone opens up just like camera tripods does, tripod MP3 player speakers are offered by certain companies, and this server as your speakers. You will find a separate speaker on each different arm of the tripod’s legs. Crystal clear sound is provided by each of which and together you are provided by them high quality surround sound effect.


A great experience is offered by portable MP3 players to those who love to listen to music as easy to carry and use. Portable speaker systems can’t play anything until they are connected to an audio source because they don’t have a tuner. You can attach MP3 player speakers, typically to docking systems or can be connected to your PC that also recharge mp3 player.

When choosing MP3 speakers, you can see the big difference such as watts per channel, the number of channels, and separate subwoofers. Here, there are some of the best speakers for MP3 player:

Bose Sound Dock Digital Music System has features;
- 2 channels
- 12 watts per channel
- No subwoofers
- But has the highest sound quality
- It costs about $200
Harman-Kardon SoundSticks II has features;
- 3 channels
- 10 watts per channel
- Separate subwoofers
- Has a really good sound
- It costs about $170
Boom Tube H201 has features;
- 3 channels
- 12 watts per channel
- Separate subwoofers
- It costs about $100

Read more at; MP3 SPEAKERS, PINK MP3 PLAYERS

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Portable Sound Systems, How Portable Are Systems and How is the Sound Quality?

What is a portable sound system? The definition would depend on who a person is talking to. The general public may think of an i-Pod and a docking station or a Boom Box. Those in the Audio System industry would have a vastly different definition, dealing with speaker arrays, wireless receivers and transmitters, microphone systems, etc. This article will be dealing with the second definition, Portable voice and music sound systems. Even under this definition, the difference between systems can be dramatic. Systems can vary from ultra-portable handheld speaker PA systems, like the Anchor MegaVox PRO or Anchor MiniVox Lite to Midsized systems like the Anchor Liberty or Xtreme and large capacity audio systems like the Anchor Beacon Sound System.

These are all self contained, portable units, which offer amplification, quality speakers, and microphones. The size differential allows for a system which can effectively transmit sound to a small group in a limited space to systems which can transmit sound clearly in large open areas to crowds up to 5000 people. The larger systems also offer greater options, such as wired microphones, single wireless microphone receivers and multiple wireless receivers. Varied systems also offer options such as built in MP3 players. Of course the ability to Daisy Chain, or tie together multiple units allows many of the smaller systems to be used to reach larger crowds as well.

While the smallest systems tend to be solely battery operated, the larger systems often allow for AC and DC operation, from internal batteries and external power sources. Depending on the degree of portability required this can be an important consideration. If the presenter will be moving, as one would when giving a tour, or possibly at a rally or parade, then the small handheld, battery powered option would be best. On the other hand, when the presentation is to be given from a fixed location, larger options may be better suited. Larger portable sound systems are easily moved from one location to another, with set up and break down times which are minimal, but they are not designed to be portable during use. Here the considerations will tend to be venue and crowd size. A decibel level output high enough to carry sound effectively should determined and equipment obtained to meet or exceed that standard. Availability of power is another major consideration. While the Beacon offers AC/DC power, the extreme requires AC, and therefore cannot be used if electrical outlets are not available. The Liberty offers both power source options as well. Anchor covers the range of portable sound systems well, and produces a solid, professional and high quality line of products, but I will not say that they are the only brand which does so. Shop around to find the system which best suits your needs.

How does one determine what their needs are? A few simple questions can help with that process. First how big is the venue? Is it indoors or outdoors? Is it a wide open area, or are there many barriers present to block sound waves? What is the size of the crowd I am addressing? Will I be projecting in a straight line or do I need to have audio project in a radius to cover the crowd effectively? What acoustic considerations are there? For example, is the venue full of plush items which dampen noise or is it largely hard surfaces, or are there major sources of background noise which need to be accounted for? How portable does the system have to be? Will power be available at the venue? How often will the system be used, is it a one time event, and occasional use or regular use over the long-term? Lastly, what is the available budget? Systems can range from under $200.00 for the smallest ones to several thousand dollars for more powerful systems, so budget is a major consideration. Don’t' look at this as strictly a cost issue; however, look at it as a return on investment issue. Will the use which is obtained from the system justify the cost? What is the cost of having an inadequate system? These questions should paint a fair picture of what kind of system is required. So long as the system purchased is adequate to the tasks required of it, the sound quality will be good on any of the Anchor systems mentioned. However, sound quality does degrade when a system is overtaxed. For this reason, it is usually advisable to purchase a system which has power to spare. This ensures that the system and sound quality will not be harmed by trying to get more from it than it is designed to handle.


To research specifics on Portable sound systems, visit full line audio system dealers. They can offer advice on systems based on your specific needs, they can also offer product specifications to clarify what a particular system is able to do. Excellent sources of information exist on the internet; however a buyer is often well suited to talk to friends and associates who have experience with various products. Personal experiences can be invaluable in finding the right products for your needs. With the high potential costs, take the time to research well before making a purchase. The selections are wide and the options are varied but the portable sound system to meet any needs is available.


To explore the Full Line of Anchor Audio Products visit Anchor Audio Warehouse at Portable Sound System Dealer or call 1-800- 772-1605 to inquire about specific items or what products would match your presentation needs.



Scott Schwartz - SDS Consulting Group - Greenwich, CT - 203-979-9822 - CT Outsource Services Provider

Full service independent consultant. Services offered include Curricula Design, training program facilitation, presentation design, marketing campaigns, database design, document design, system designs and strategic planning at costs that small businesses can afford. Local source for small business outsourcing.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Listen & Watch Audio & Video with Digital Media Players

With the spread of entertainment gadgets and electronics in almost every part of the world, many optimistic changes have occurred in the ways people are engaging themselves in different kinds of activities.

Listening and watching audio and video with advanced digital media players is the trend of modern world. We cannot think to escape from its clutches. Rather we need to flow with the waves in the stream. iPods are the most popular digital players. Apart from iPods, these days high end mobile phones are also termed as media players. However, iPods are much popular than high end mobile phones in terms of digital media features.

Do all kinds of iPods give exceptional digital media services? In this context we all need to remember that anything that comes at easy price will never give any kind of exceptional service. The fight for branded products will always govern the entertainment market and the mania of brand is also applicable to iPods.

When we walk out of our homes we always like to carry all our entertainment programs in tiny gadgets like iPods. These are portable and can easily be slipped into pockets. Most of the branded digital media players, iPods in the market comes in mesmerizing look and style. Youngsters are the prime customers for the maker of many media players. This set of consumers never likes to sport old gadgets. As they are the epitome of fresh vigour and new generation they always prefer to have gadgets which are exclusively design for them only.

Companies known for making outstanding digital media players are Zune, Cisco, Apple, ZEN, Samsung, SanDisk Sansa and Philips. iPods made by these companies can be trusted by all new users. Branded products never play with the confidence of folks. In addition, to all the above mentioned discussion digital media player enthusiasts should keep their eyes open for checking the storage capacity of a new iPod.


Henry Michel is expert in consumer electronics and writing about on various products i.e. ipod touch 32gb best price, dyson dc25 overdrive, optoma hd65 etc.