Nikon Coolpix S620 12.2 Megapixel Digital Camera Review - JR.com

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Added: April 23, 2009

Garmin n vi 265WT 4 3 Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Manufacturer’s Description (August 26, 2008)
Garmin’s nüvi 265WT improves upon its 200-series predecessors by adding free real-time traffic updates from Navteq (for the life of the device) as well as Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone. Other significant improvements in the 2×5 series include a predictive technology that provides faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more information, terrain maps, and an exciting new photo navigation feature. The 265WT provides complete maps for North America and the handy Text-to-Speech feature, so you get turn-by-turn spoken directions with the real names of streets (e.g. “turn left in 50 feet at Nebraska Way”, rather than merely “turn left in 50 feet”).

The nüvi 2×5 models all sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot. All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. The 265WT also offers a wide 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen that displays 70% more of the road around you.

Integrated Traffic Receiver

Steer clear of traffic with an integrated GTM 20 FM traffic receiver designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. No subscriptions or additional hardware needed. Just open the box, turn it on, and get instant access to traffic information–the traffic updates are free for the life of the device.

All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you’ll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you’re forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi’s sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.

In most areas, the traffic broadcasts are continuous–there’s no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a “silent” FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.

Hands-Free Calling

In more and more places, it is becoming illegal to use cell phones while driving without a hands-free kit. WIth Bluetooth capability, microphone and speaker, you can match your nüvi to any Bluetooth-capable phone to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial the phone number with the nüvi’s touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer an incoming call, just tap the screen and speak into the built-in microphone. Making and taking calls on the road has never been easier, or safer. In addition, Garmin makes it a breeze to look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or even tap into your cell phone’s call history log.

Key Features/Benefits for all 2×5 Series Navigators

• New – HotFix (Long Term Ephemeris Prediction) finds satellites faster (Learn more)
• New – Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features (Learn more)
• New – Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and vehicle icon motion through turns
• New – Redesigned user interface offers more information (Learn more)
• New – Photo Navigation lets you upload geo-coded photos from a phone, geo-coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. (Learn more)
• New – Add Enhanced MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger (Learn more)
• New – Send addresses directly to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest (Learn more)
• New – Automatic Time Zone Transition
• Text-to-Speech gives directions with real street names
• 4.3-inch Widescreen shows you more of what’s around you as you drive (Learn more)
• Memory Card Slots so you can add maps and travel guides, or store photos (MicroSD card slot on 3.5-inch units; SD card slot on 4.3-inch units)
• Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of North America + Hawaii + Puerto Rico, including 6.5 million searchable points of interest (Learn more)
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for easy portability (up to 4 hours per charge)
• Custom Vehicle Icons let you personalize your navigator (Learn more)
• Integrated Antenna for a slim form factor
• Where Am I? — instantly shows you all of the emergency services nearby (Learn More)

Which nüvi is Best for You?:
Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

Learn More

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New – Improved Interface

One of Garmin’s key product philosophies is to make extremely complex technology easy to use for anyone right out of the box, and perhaps nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin’s portable navigation devices. Garmin’s interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate. This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information.

Old Interface

New Interface

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New – HotFix™ – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction

Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites in order to determine its position. Until the device gets a “lock” on three satellites, it can’t effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get “satellite lock” is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin’s new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and dramatically decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off. Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.

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New – Navigate by Photo

Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide. Choose from Panoramio’s collection of photos from around the world. Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps. Search for photos by location name or map area boundary. Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator. View photos in Google Earth. Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

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New – 3D Terrain Maps

Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D “birds-eye” view.

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New – Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest

tching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it’s easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator. Hook up your Garmin to the computer via it’s USB port Search for the location you want Click the Send link in the info window for the address. That will bring up a popup “Send to” form. Pick GPS, then pick Garmin and hit the “Send” button. The address will instantly transfer to your Garmin device, The point will be saved as one of your favorites, and you can navigate to it or view it on a map just like with any other favorite. The process does require a small plugin, which you can get at Garmin’s website at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3739. You can send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
Search for the location you want.	Pick “Send to GPS”.	Go!

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Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content

MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content

With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi. Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services. A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription.

FM Traffic

With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you’ll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you’re forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi’s sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous — there’s no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a “silent” FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions. A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website.

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Widescreen — See More of What’s Around

The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

Wider screen lets you see more of what’s around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen

and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen

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Where Am I?

On any nüvi (including this one), you can just tap “Where Am I?” to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.

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First-Rate Map Data

nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.

The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for all of North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

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Garmin Lock

Garmin’s patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

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Beyond Navigation

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.

Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 2×5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs. For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units. Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

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Trick Your GPS Ride

Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option

All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle’s position on the map.

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What’s in the Box?

nüvi 265WT, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America (full coverage), Lifetime traffic, FM traffic receiver with vehicle power cable, Vehicle suction cup mount, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual

Notes

• Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
• Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

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Which nüvi is Best for You?

Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

Screen Size inches (w x h)

Included Maps

Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)

Traffic

Bluetooth

Media

3D Terrain Maps

Photo Navigation

FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)

Multi- Point Routing

Battery life (hours)

Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico

AK and Canada

Europe

nüvi 200

2.8 x 2.1

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 200w

3.81 x 2.25

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 250

2.8 x 2.1

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 250w

3.81 x 2.25

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 260

2.8 x 2.1

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 260w

3.81 x 2.25

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 270

2.8 x 2.1

Photos

up to 5

nüvi 205

2.8 x 2.1

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 205W

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 255

2.8 x 2.1

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 255W

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 265T

2.8 x 2.1

Integrated FM receiver with lifetime traffic; MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 265WT

3.81 x 2.25

Integrated FM receiver with lifetime traffic; MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 275T

2.8 x 2.1

Integrated FM receiver with lifetime traffic; MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver)

Photos

up to 4

nüvi 350

2.8 x 2.1

FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 8

nüvi 360

2.8 x 2.1

FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 8

nüvi 370

2.8 x 2.1

FM (receiver included)

Photos, MP3s

up to 8

nüvi 650

3.81 x 2.25

FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 7

nüvi 660

3.81 x 2.25

FM (receiver included)

Photos, MP3s

up to 7

nüvi 670

3.81 x 2.25

FM (receiver included)

Photos, MP3s

up to 7

nüvi 680

3.81 x 2.25

MSN (receiver included; 1-year free); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 7

nüvi 750

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 5

nüvi 760

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 5

nüvi 770

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 5

nüvi 780

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 5

nüvi 850

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 4

nüvi 880

3.81 x 2.25

MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free); FM (with opt. receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 4

nüvi 5000

4.5 x 2.7

MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)

external battery only

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Basic MSN Direct Content Features
	Traffic Reports Find the best route through traffic. Your GPS device uses MSN Direct traffic data to select the best route for you to avoid traffic congestion. Check traffic flow. Know at a glance where to expect slowdowns in traffic. Get accident warnings. Receive warnings about accidents, road closures, and construction in the area that may affect you.
	Gas Prices Compare local gas prices. See a list of recent gas prices in your area and an indication of how recently the prices were reported. Find your way to the savings. Once you find the best price in your area, use your navigation system to guide you to the gas station.
	Weather Reports Stay on top of current conditions. View the current weather conditions in your area, including today’s high and low temperatures, chances of precipitation, and more. View the three-day forecast, Plan ahead by checking the three-day weather forecast for your area. Check weather in other cities. See current weather conditions in major cities across the country.
	Movie Times Search for a movie. Find the theaters in your coverage area that are showing the movie you want to see. See which movies are playing. View which movies are playing in your coverage area or at your favorite theater. See show times and get directions. Once you find a show you want to see, check the show times and use your GPS device to guide you to the theater.
Enhanced MSN Direct Content
	Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps) Powerful trip planning: Use Live Search Maps on your computer to look up an address, search for a business, or plan a trip Choose your favorite location, and then MSN Direct delivers the address, phone number, and more straight to your navigation system. Visit Live Search Maps at http://maps.live.com.
	Local Events See what’s happening near you. Find nearby events to see what’s happening in your area. Find the events that interest you. Browse events sorted by category. Search for an event. Get details about a particular event.
	Stock Quotes Watch the stocks that interest you. Select stocks that you want to keep an eye on, and then see regularly updated stock prices and daily changes. Get a little more detail. Touch a stock in your list to see daily highs, lows, and trading volume.
	News Headlines Browse the headlines at a glance. See breaking news and other major news stories of the day. Read more details. Select a headline to read all the details about the news story on your navigation system.
MSN Direct Coverage Map
Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars JC Abq
I bought this GPS receiver about 5 weeks ago for my car because it was recommended in some places I did research (Consumer Reports, Amazon users, maybe CNET, etc.). Overall, it works well, but it has a few quirks. I put in a couple of local destinations I go to frequently, and the unit wants me to go in a roundabout way. Not a big deal as I know the area, but if you were in a new city and that happened, you’d probably lose time. I like the wide display, the “Where am I?” feature, and the voice prompts. Haven’t gone out of town with it yet, so no evaluation there. Supposed to have a free traffic feature, but I’ve seen no sign of its presence. The price dropped $50 in a month, so I wish I’d waited to buy.

3 Stars OK GPS but lacking
I’ve owned a Garmin C330 for over 5 years, and have grown to depend on it for traveling for work. I upgraded, mainly because the receiver in my C330 was taking too long to lock onto the GPS satellites and I wanted a wider screen. I opted for the traffic, mainly because it was only another 40 bucks, and if I keep this one for another 5 years, I don’t want to kick myself in the butt for not getting the additional feature. Anyway, my review focuses mainly on the device as a pure GPS device. I don’t care much for the photos, mp3 player, blue-tooth, etc.

PROS:

First Time to Lock: Took about 45 seconds.

Subsequent time to lock: Unit locks within 20-30 seconds

Speed limit sign: Very cool, and accurate, showing the current posted speed limit

Next Turn indicator: Again, really nice. New feature indicates the direction of an upcoming turn. It also shows which side of the road a particular destination will be as you are coming up on it.

Last entered city: Pull down for last cities entered. No more typing San Franciso, Santa Clara, etc.

Screen refresh and rendering is much faster than previous model.

Traffic: Although I haven’t used this much, it’s still cool to know that I can make decisions related to traffic reports.

CONS:

No outside volume control: This is HUGE for me. Of all the control I used on my C330, I frequently adjusted the volume control via the little control disk on the outside of the unit. Listening to the radio, talking on the phone and talking to passengers all encouraged me to frequently adjust the volume. To adjust the volume on the Nuvi, you must switch to a different screen to adjust volume, all the while, you no longer have a map view.

Voice is “Tinny” sounding: While decent, the voice on the C330 was much richer.

Tone before announcement: The C330 allowed you to set a function that alerted you before a voice announcement was to be made. This was a nice feature, because sometimes, you’re not paying attention to your GPS and a turn announcement can come to you as a surprise.

Power Cord: I liked the C series, because the power was built into the mount. All I had to do was pull it out of my glove compartment and attach it to the cradle. With the Nuvi, the power cord just dangles in the car until you connect. Then of course you have to take your eyes off the road while trying to figure out which way the little mini connector fits into the device. If you leave the device permanently mounted, this isn’t a big deal.

Pop-Up advertisement: Not a real big deal, but still an annoyance and it can’t be turned off. I’m waiting for the first law suit due to the distraction from the devices primary purpose.

In all, this device is OK. The biggest issues are the lack of integrated power to the cradle and external volume control.

5 Stars Out of the box this was and incredible BUY
I read a lot of reviews and was prepared for anything, including that this would be a good GPS as my first foray into the GPS arena. This is a GREAT GPS out of the box I think this unit is incredible.

Follow the instructions, maybe wait a month to do the update, but in any case, what a pleasure to use and so functional.

5 Stars Garmin Nuvi
The Garmin Nuvi 265W is just terrific. But I would have gotten one higher level in the series for more street detail, had I realized more specific features. This was my fault, not the product’s. An excellent buy and real help on the roads.

5 Stars Highly recommend the Garmin Nuvi 265WT
You can’t go wrong with this compact GPS. I have had others and this is by far the best. Easy to use and excellent at getting around. I’m a Realtor and it is essential in my job.

I love not having to wear my blue tooth in my ear while driving.

This GPS has it all and I am thrilled to have chosen one that far exceeds the others.

Buy/More Info

Sanyo Xacti VPC E2 Digital Camcorder and 8 MP Digital Camera Blue

Stop fussing with bulky underwater housing. The Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2 Waterproof Digital CameraCorder captures both high-resolution 8-megapixel digital still photos and high quality video underwater. It is pocket-sized, so it’s perfect for the beach or on the ski slopes. This unique CameraCorder also offers face detection for both still photos and video and is designed to easily upload video to social networking websites such as YouTube and portable digital media players such as the iPod Video.

Full motion video up to 1.25 hours on an SD card and up to 10 hours on an 8 GB SDHC card (TV-HQ mode) Face detection - up to 12 faces for still photos and 6 faces for video Ergonomic design for single-handed operation Uses SD/SDHC memory card Simultaneous still image capture while shooting video Underwater mode for better color in underwater photos and video Digital Image stabilizer Full-range digital stereo recording In-camera editing MPEG4 video files can be directly imported into iTunes and transferred to video-capable iPod, and other portable digital media players Web-mode for simple sharing to Web sites such as YouTube and portable media players such as the iPod video Super fast start-up @ approx 1.7 seconds Taking navigation for first-time users Simple or sophisticated menu options Sequential photos up to 10 photos@ 5fps Connectivity to TV, VCR, DVD Recorder and/or PC Includes Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 for movie editing and DVD authoring Lightweight (258 grams/9.03 ounces including battery and SD card) Lithium-ion battery and charger

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2 Digital Camcorder
This is a cute camera to take on a road trip and you don’t have to worry about it getting wet because it’s waterproof. Just make sure you look at the directions when you charge the battery that it is in right and get a memory card.

4 Stars Great Camera!
Love it! Takes great pics, videos seem good quality. Need to get a back up battery so one is always charged. Haven’t used the camera underwater yet but as soon as the weather is warm enough we will have it in the pool! Easy enough for the kids to operate and play back.

4 Stars Good Value
Good value for the $175 price. I purchased the camera as a birthday gift. The video quality is better than my 3+ year old Xacti C5. The photos are decent, but still not as good as most other digital still cameras, especially in low-light. The waterproof shell, however, makes the camera much larger that previous Xacti cameras, but it is still relatively small. While the video is only 640×480 and HD would be preferred, the HD Xacti cameras cost a lot more.

I have only tried the underwater capabilities in the sink, but I can’t wait for the summer to take it to the beach and in the water.

4 Stars Xacti VPC-E2

This is a compact and durable, extremely easy to operate, do almost everything camera. It takes great stills and good outdoor movies. I was disappointed a bit with the indoor movies.

It works underwater and is sealed to resist dust, sand, high humidity.

It interfaces flawlessly with PC. With the Mac, I sometimes have connectivity problems and need to remove the SD card to upload the photos and movies. Overall, I would recommend the camera. It does fit in my shirt pocket..

4 Stars Really good for active people who want to make movies with their computer..
Just perfect for me. I was aware of it’s downsides such as short battery life( just buy a 2nd, they’re cheap), no lens cover and very average picture quality. However for the price, I could overlook those issues. It is well built,easy to use. the SD format makes it simple to upload to your computer. The camera also came with Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 editing software that is great for the average Joe. I use it mainly to shoot ski footage, as the waterproof aspects of the camera allow me to use it in wet weather(just keep lens covered)I’ve had it for a month and so far so good.

Buy/More Info

Garmin n vi 260W 4 3 Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Go wide with the ultra-cool nuvi 260W that speaks street names. This widescreen navigator is simple to use. nuvi 260W comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. nuvi 260W sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot. Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi 260W includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. The optional SD cards slot lets you add additional features. High-sensitivity receiver RoHS version available Built-in memory - Internal solid state with SD Card slot Waypoints/favorites/locations - 500 Voice prompts Speaks street names 3D map view Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation) Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road) Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.) Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest) Configurable vehicle icons (select car-shaped icons for map navigation) World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, and calculator Unit Dimensions - Width 4.8 x Height 2.9 x Depth 0.8 (12.2×7.4×2.0cm) Weight - 6.1 ounces (172.93 grams)

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Nuvi 260W
I just got my second Garmin GPS Nuvi 260W today. I wanted to buy this one only because of two reasons. 1) The wide and bigger screen makes it easy for me to read the text on the screen while driving. 2) The Text to speech feature which will help me to focus on driving not reading to the text or be confused about the exits some times as my Street Pilot i5 does. The only reason I gave 4 stars is the lady voice is not as good as it is my 3 years old Street Pilot i5, and she speaks so fast. Speakers vibrate and you can feel it when test to speech come in the action. Overall I am safisfied with this unit. My wife will carry this one I would use my old buddy Street Pilot i5 for next 3 years at least. I would recommend anybody who wants to buy a GPS at this price ($170) not a bad deal in Costco right now.

5 Stars Mr.
Garmin n

TomTom ONE S 3 5 Inch GPS Portable Navigator with Text to Speech

TomTom’s ONE-S features an updated chipset that provides better satellite lock and TomTom’s new MapShare technology that lets you add your own map corrections and points of interest, then upload your corrections to and download other corrections from millions of other TomTom users via the TomTom HOME website.

The TomTom ONE’s 3D driving view offers a clear picture of the road and maneuvers ahead. See the ONE in detail.

The device’s icon-driven menu system makes using the ONE a snap.

Emergency menu gives you fast direct access to emergency numbers and direction to the nearest assistance.

Voice instructions are available in over 30 languages. Tom Tom even has comedy and celebrity voices available.

MapShare lets you add your own map corrections and POIs, then share them with the entire TomTom user community via the TomTom HOME website.

Even though the ONE-S is TomTom’s entry-level portable GPS vehicle navigation device, it remains a complete solution with an incredible range of features, including text-to-speech.

Tiny, but Tough
A sleek design and a sharp display combine to make the TomTom ONE-S a vital companion on the road. The ONE-S comes pre-loaded with complete maps for the United States and Canada.

Weighing less than 10 ounces and measuring 4.33 x 3.5 x 1.34 inches, the TomTom ONE-S can be installed easily in any vehicle. An included windshield suction mount holds it in place. Plus, with an operating temperature range of an icy -10 degrees to a sweltering 55 degrees Celsius (14 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit), the navigator is durable enough for New England winters or Arizona summers. The TomTom ONE-S is powered by an internal lithium ion battery that can be charged from your vehicle’s cigarette lighter with the included 12-24V adapter.

Easy To Use
The user-friendly design also puts it a step above other navigation systems. The crystal-clear multicolor display makes for exceptionally easy viewing of maps, routes, driving directions, and other traveling information, such as mileage and distance. Measuring 3.5 inches, the TFT display offers a resolution of 320 x 240 to provide brilliant two- and three-dimensional graphics. The device also features 32 MB RAM and 380 MHz CPU, making it responsive and zippy. Using the USB port and the provided cable, you can use your PC to add your own points of interest.

With its touch-sensitive screen, the TomTom ONE-S puts programming and operation literally at your fingertips to make sophisticated technology simple. The built-in database offers millions of points of interest for you to use as destinations or reference points as you plan your trip. ONE-S also will provide a selection of available routes, giving you the option of avoiding toll roads or choosing between the quickest or the most scenic routes. The database includes zip codes to simplify your route selection, and for extra convenience, the TomTom ONE-S lets you save the addresses of frequent destinations, making route planning easier and faster than ever. Other display features include a compass mode to assist you with directional orientation, and an anti-glare screen for optimal viewing even in direct sunlight.

You Can Hear Me Now
ONE-S provides clear and accurate turn-by-turn voice instructions, so that you don’t have to take your eyes off the road while your vehicle is on the move. Voice instructions are available in over 30 languages. TomTom even has comedy and celebrity voices available, some for free, and others for purchase via download at TomTom’s website. One nifty feature is speed-sensitive volume. With this optional feature turned on, your vehicle’s engine becomes louder or quieter as your speed changes, the volume adjusts itself accordingly, guaranteeing clear and easy listening.

TomTom HOME
HOME is TomTom’s free software that enables TomTom users to future proof and personalize their devices. Via easy desktop access, any TomTom customer can update maps, download the latest application, celebrity voices and more. TomTom HOME allows TomTom customers to:

• Update their TomTom device with TomTom’s latest software and services automatically and for free
• Easily buy and install the latest maps and European safety cameras
• Download celebrity and character voices
• Pre-plan trip itineraries
• Receive free traffic alerts on their computers

What’s in the Box
TomTom ONE device, suction mount, car charger, USB 2.0 data cable, and installation CD with connection software and manual.

Supported Languages

The user interface/application comes in the following languages: Catalan Latvian Czech Lithuanian Danish Norwegian Dutch Polish Estonian Portuguese Finnish Slovakian Flemish Spanish French Swedish German Turkish Hungarian UK English Italian US English

Spoken navigation instructions come in the following languages: Australian Japanese Brazilian Portuguese Latin American Spanish Bulgarian Latvian Catalan Lithuanian Chinese Mandarin Malaysian Chinese Cantonese Norwegian Croatian Polish Czech Portuguese Danish Romanian Dutch Russian Estonian Serbian Finnish Slovenian Flemish Spanish French Swedish German Thai Greek Turkish Hungarian UK English Italian US English

About TomTom
TomTom NV is the world’s largest navigation solution provider, developing products with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use and value. TomTom’s products include all-in-one navigation devices which enable customers to navigate right out of the box; including the award-winning TomTom GO family, the TomTom ONE range and the TomTom RIDER (for motorcycles). TomTom also provides navigation software products which integrate with third party devices; the TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDA’s and smartphones. TomTom WORK combines industry leading communication and smart navigation technology with leading edge tracking and tracing expertise. TomTom’s products are sold through a network of leading retailers in 25 countries and online. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Nice product as long as you do not travel in Illinois
In general it works great however major issue is that in many of the illinois communities (unincorporated communities) it is not possible to find the these business and residential locations. Mainly be cause you cannot enter a letter in the house number addresses are 4N312 Illinois Ave

or 32W432 dumbdumb st.,

So not very useful. so far the Garmins, Magellans and Nuvis all work for these addresses. TOMTOM needs to get on the ball.

4 Stars I am satisfied, good price for a good product…
I did a lot of looking around for a GPS unit and finally decided on the TomTom One S. There were a few things that the TomTom did that I really wanted.

1. Text to Speech. It tells you the name of the street you are about to turn on. I like that feature a lot. Only down side is that it only works with “Tom” the computer voice. The other voices do not offer the text to speech capability.

2. Sending Mapquest directions straight to the TomTom. I love Mapquest and I use it all of the time whenever I am planning a trip out of town. So sending destinations straight to the TomTom is a big plus for me.

3. One free upgrade after purchasing. One thing I didn’t want to worry about was buying a GPS unit and then turning right around and having to pay more money for updated maps. I bought this unit, plugged it into my computer, downloaded the TomTom Home software and a few clicks later, it informed me that my TomTom already had the latest map updates installed. Wonderful!!!

4. Mapsharing. I am a geek, so I like to tweek and piddle and customize my gadgets. Having the ability to change/edit streets and locations on the TomTom was a plus. But then to hear that I can get those types of updates from other geeks like me is a big plus!!!

Now I read a ton of reviews on different models of the TomTom and the majority of the problems people were having were:

1. Speaker not loud enough.

2. Problems updating the unit.

3. Street names not being spoken aloud.

4. Having to manually turn the unit from “daytime” background to “nighttime” background. (other units do this automatically).

5. Not enough Points of Interest.

I drive a full size SUV that is older. So, lots of road noise, lots of in-cabin noise. I adjusted the speaker volume all the way up and I can still hear the TomTom well enough. Now if I have my radio on, I can’t understand what TomTom is trying to tell me but if I am trying to pay attention to directions, why would I have my radio on in the first place?

I have had no problems updating the unit so far. (knock on wood).

When I first started using the TomTom, it did not say the street names. So, I checked the instructions and it mentioned that only the computer voice allows spoken street names. So I went into preferences, voices and scrolled through the list of voices until I got to a voice that specifically said “computer”. Once that was selected, I began to hear all the street names I wanted to.

Having to manually turn it from day to night mode. Sure I can understand people that have had other units in the past that took care of that for you and are used to it. So having to do it yourself takes a couple of clicks, big deal. Is that no different than changing the station on the radio? Or making a call on your cell phone? Or putting make up on? I think sometimes people complain simply because they can.

Not enough points of interest. I have heard that other units are known for thier millions of points of interest. Can’t argue with them, the TomTom doesn’t have million’s. But it does have the ability to add them, which I think is helpful. Just cruising through the list of points of interest to add was interesting. I added Fith Thrid Bank ATM’s and BBQ places in AL to my list. I like to eat good BBQ and I am going to have to stop at an ATM to get money to pay for it so I am all set there.

All in all, for this being my first GPS, I like it. I probably won’t even utilize all that this unit has to offer so I would for around $130, I am getting my money’s worth.

Now maybe down the road after using this unit for a couple years, I may find that a more expensive unit with more options may be the route I take but for now, I am happy with this unit.

5 Stars Great Gas Saver!
When we were searching for a home, it found the easiest routes to each one. Looked at 15/20 a day. If your moving to a new place its invaluable!

1 Star Avoid updating it
This product worked fine for the 11 minutes it worked. I bought it, used it to get home as a test, and it worked well. Went to update it, which you must do via your computer at home. ANY INTERRUPTION IN AN UPDATE WILL CORRUPT THE UNITS INTERNAL FILES IRREPERABLY! In my case my anti-virus software happened to download an update. This rendered it into a 100 dollar paperweight. This was confirmed with tech support. Luckily it was returnable, and I bought a Garmin.

2 Stars Does not do alphanumeric house numbers
Way too basic. It does not accept house numbers with letters in them.

ie: 48w455 Any Street. If you live where that is an issue, stay away.

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