tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30281098510815125152024-03-12T19:53:43.089-07:00TeckoGeckoTeckoGecko's home theater systems, digital cameras, mp3 players, iPhone accessories, eBook readers and TVs from the end user's perspective.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-52464705748764066352015-03-19T06:39:00.001-07:002015-03-19T06:39:32.652-07:00Fix missing audio in cable boxes
So, you were watching TV using your cable box adapter and all of a sudden lost the audio completely. You checked connections, your TV is not muted, you unplugged the cable box and plugged it back in 5 minutes. Nothing helps. At the same time other devices work fine on the same HDMI input of your television. Seems that you are out of options and must call Comcast support. Well, not really!
I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-43093445670456453722011-06-04T06:25:00.000-07:002011-06-04T07:23:52.207-07:00eBook readers for Pandigital NovelAfter I successfully installed the Android version of the Pandigital Novel firmware, I have been really enjoying this device. I just don't particularly like the pre-installed Barnes & Noble app. It does not have a way to open files on the SD card without first going through a lengthy import process. Plus, the fonts don't look all that great.Now, as you may or may not know, Pandigital Novel Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-47202189237757536922011-04-04T14:03:00.000-07:002011-04-04T14:13:46.175-07:00Pandigital Novel firmware update problem solvedWhen I first got the Pandigital Novel (2gb black model) it came with a notice in the package advising the user to upgrade the firmware. I went to the website and downloaded the required updated program, followed the steps and discovered that no matter what I do the firmware version remains the same. It almost looked as if something was wrong with the device. When Pandigital came out with a new Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-46397085201476243902011-01-01T05:30:00.000-08:002011-01-01T05:47:04.728-08:00Toshiba 40FT1U review and manualJust got a new Toshiba 40FT1U at Costco. An excellent 40'' 1080p set! I liked the picture quality the most out of a number of comparable TVs. There is only one feature that this TV does not have, but I must admit that it's more a legacy device issue than anything else. There is no coaxial audio out, only optical. Probably fine for most modern home theaters, but not for mine. This means that I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-20312456162604196592010-12-28T06:08:00.000-08:002010-12-28T12:24:26.319-08:00Pandigital Novel black and white -- review and manualsFirst of all, the black and white models of Pandigital Novel are not the same device. When given a choice, go for the white one. It has better hardware and a newer Android version.I happen to have a black version. My first impression was not so great. Since I wanted an ebook reader primarily to read public domain versions of old books in PDF format, this was my first test. I loaded a file and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-66878959942711563922010-10-19T08:34:00.000-07:002010-10-19T08:40:37.820-07:00iPod Classic white screenA few weeks ago I turned on my iPod Classic 160gb and all I saw was a white screen. This is a common problem, I believe. The usual solutions are resetting the device and restoring it to factory settings. Neither one worked. Curiously, the iPod still played music. Someone suggested that running down the battery could fix the problem. Well, that's not so easy. Even after the device no longer had Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-84623447797518080862010-08-20T16:20:00.000-07:002010-08-20T16:42:58.273-07:00Philips DCM109/37 Cube Micro Music System Dock for iPod/iPhoneJust bought a Philips Cube DCM109/37, primarily to use with iPods and iPhones. I am no audiophile, but to my taste the sound coming out of these speakers is very satisfactory. Bass, high frequencies, clarity, volume - I am actually quite impressed. The iPod dock is a little bit strange. Instead of a bunch of inserts to match every model of iPods and iPhones ever made, this model has a little Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-30069739573643482662010-06-22T06:58:00.000-07:002010-06-22T07:18:14.310-07:00How can I make sure that UPS delivers my packages to the right address?What's the fun of online shopping if your packages never arrive?I have had many instances when UPS incorrectly delivered my packages. The reason is the driver's lack of attention. Even though my street is well marked they miss a turn and end up on a street that has exactly the same name, except it's a Road, not a Street. I assume they have GPS, they simply don't use it. Here is what I did. AmazonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-86893500924760354472010-04-22T15:55:00.000-07:002010-05-18T07:31:39.707-07:00iPhone text editorsIt is apparent that serious software developers do not consider worth their effort to create full-featured applications for iPhone or iPod Touch. Otherwise it is impossible to explain the absence of some very basic programs such as a well designed word processor for iPhone. Everything that I was able to find is very rudimentary. After some searching I zeroed in on three apps that I like. One Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-75162813074377887422010-04-06T10:22:00.000-07:002012-11-28T11:37:40.353-08:00Under-cabinet radio with iPod dock: Hamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach UTC (HU384SA) is a good example of how unexpected a relatively simple device can turn out to be in terms of its features. I am used to the iPod dock that came with my Philips home theater, so I thought that something that is actually built with a dedicated iPod dock would have similar functions. Not so fast. Turns out, you cannot navigate the iPod from this under-cabinet device. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-17362611261062449162010-02-01T16:01:00.000-08:002010-02-01T16:03:10.069-08:00iPhone battery problem (and solution)When my iPhone's battary totally died (partially because I wanted to run it down, as often recommend) I charged it to 100%. To my great surprise, only a few hours later, without much use, the battary was down to 65%! I charged it again, but it started to leak juice again. I keep all battary-intensive tasks at a minimum, but I checked and rechecked the setting several times. Nothing!Here is how I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-38356928080132090722010-01-27T10:20:00.000-08:002010-01-27T11:51:11.587-08:00iPad picture (the real deal), price and specsWell, here it is. iPad.Can't say that I am disappointed, because I did not expect much. It is too big to carry around. A stay-at-home device for me, because my commute is too rough. It beats Amazon Kindle, but I don't like Kindle for all the same reasons. It is really strange to see that they are showing us all those subway maps on the iPad. Maybe Steve Jobs travels first class on the subway?OK, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-219837134852332732010-01-19T11:26:00.000-08:002010-01-19T12:01:37.066-08:00Best case for iPod -- what to considerWhen I was exclusively using an old iPod Photo I liked a leather flip case. One майор inconvenience was that when the case's flap was difficult to open because the audio cable went right through it. And of course, it was impossible to put the iPod on the dock without taking it out of the case first. So, when I started looking for a case for iPod Classic, I decided to get a leather case, but the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-86446111588783307072010-01-17T16:24:00.000-08:002010-01-17T16:33:20.634-08:00Toshiba 40RV525R ManualToshiba 40RV525R is the most recent incarnation of an LCD TV whose manufacturers believe it to be of utmost importance to make sure that viewers not even for a second forget the brand of their television. As a result, the front panel of 40RV525R features an LED "Toshiba" logo. In a sharp departure from Vizio, however, this light can be turned off in the menu, as described on page 30 of the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-79187474116466083932010-01-13T06:40:00.000-08:002010-01-13T07:07:45.516-08:00Chinon AVi - iPod Docking System with LCD (review + manual)Chinon AVi packs a lot at a very attractive price of $199. It's an iPod dock, an alarm, an FM radio and a 7 inch Digital TV. In my opinion, a perfect thing for the kitchen. Or is it?Now, keep in mind that recently Apple made it impossible to use third-party cables to connect iPods to television sets. You would have to pay $40 just for a set of composite or component cables at an Apple store. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-2742586828427098002010-01-10T12:10:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:51:39.430-08:00Fuji S1500FD manualThe Fuji S1500 continues the "tradition" of Fuji 1000. This may very well be my next camera. As usual, one thing I can get for free is the manual, even though it eventually comes in the box.Fuji S1500 manualUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-44673168340764909682010-01-08T07:24:00.000-08:002010-03-24T06:53:06.363-07:00Comcast's new DTA box and standard QAM channelsWhen during the time of last year's government mandated switch to digital broadcasting Comcast assured its customers that there is nothing to worry about as long as you have cable -- well, that was not entirely truthful. Just a few months later Comcast customers were forced to aquire inconvenient digital to analog boxes. As of now, in most locations you can no longer watch "high channels" withoutUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-72208680645920752532010-01-02T05:59:00.000-08:002010-01-02T06:20:12.069-08:00eBooks on iPhone: my ultimate (for now) solutionIt took me several days to figure out just the right combination of ebook reading software on my iPhone. It seems that at the moment no app of this kind can perform all functions that I find absolutely necessary. Namely, I want to be able to read fb2 books and they must be very well organized on the device with multiple nesting folders. GoodReader (presently $1 at the app store) works very well Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-2377792313925187752009-12-28T14:02:00.000-08:002009-12-28T14:06:55.452-08:00Best place to shop for an iPhone case.Best place to buy a case for an iPhone?It does not matter how much you spent (and were willing to spend) on an iPhone. You still should not overpay for iPhone accessories. The best place to look at a wide assortment of cases is your local Apple store, but everything there is extremely overpriced. You may find what you like and then hit the web in order to find a better deal. But instead you can Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-27597405236133016692009-12-27T04:25:00.000-08:002009-12-27T06:26:45.754-08:00iPhone vs. iPodIt happened so that I had to upgrade a great deal of my electronics all at the same time -- needed a better phone service, my laptop nearly broke and my iPod's hard drive became too small to handle my file collection. After much going back and fourth I decided that there is simply no way for me not to have both a 160 gb iPod and an iPhone. Here are the reasons:Of course, the capacity. I envision Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-2266409056332237982009-10-25T12:05:00.000-07:002009-10-25T12:11:56.392-07:00Cool-er ebook readerThere are strong indications that the ebook market is about to explode. One of the early examples of this will be the yet unreleased British device called Cool-er. It has great options for international users, SD-expansion (rated at 4 gb), good selection of supported file formats and the ebook store that promises to be more reasonable and "better-stocked" e-store. The manual for Cool-er is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-78223109992082698872009-10-19T11:28:00.000-07:002009-10-19T11:33:14.551-07:00Windows 7 worries gone - proof of purchase worked like magicWhen I got a new Toshiba laptop at Costco it did not occur to me that in order to get my free copy of Windows 7 I will have to keep the original receipt. Usually, a UPC code is enough, right? Especially with Costco, because they never even need receipts if you bring anything back. Everything is in the system! So, I was a little worried when I found out that Toshiba wants you to scan the sales Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-65021487596470231072009-02-01T13:54:00.000-08:002009-02-01T14:03:41.718-08:00Panasonic TC-37LZ800 and Panasonic TC-32LZ800 manualsNot only reviews, but personal experience have convinced me that Panasonic is currently perhaps the most reliable televisions in both plasma and LCD categories. I have seen a good number of commercial projects where Panasonic was the brand of choice. It is, of course, my tradition to make manuals easily available for every piece of electronics that comes to my attention.Panasonic TC-37LZ800 and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-46198356422910177702009-01-17T14:49:00.000-08:002009-01-17T17:22:16.599-08:00Sylvania LC321SS9 - a reviewJust bought Sylvania LC321SS9 at Costco at a ridiculous price of $399. As always with Costco, I don't care if it breaks within the next two years - their warranty covers it all. It does, however, seems like a nice unit. I always compare the picture screen at the store and this one looked very nice, comparable to Sharp, in my opinion. Costco had a Vizio for $389, but the notorious Vizio power Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028109851081512515.post-17745072796588210552008-12-31T07:53:00.000-08:002008-12-31T08:06:10.494-08:00Samsung BlackJack II (i617) Review and User Manual (PDF)I am switching from T-Mobile to AT&T Wireless. As a result my T-Mobile MDA will no longer work. Of course, I am fully aware that it is possible to "upgrade" the firmware, essentially unlocking this phone. Still, with so many options available from ATT&T, why not get a cheap and comparable phone from them and then decide if it is worth trying to unlock the old one?After much speculation, IUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1