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Mar 13, 2012
A big, beautiful, amazingly elegant tv...
3 of 3 found this helpful If you've been waiting for a full-featured, big-screen LCD TV--and by big, I mean 5-feet-plus on the diagonal--that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, the Vizio XVT3D650SV may well be the answer to your prayers. For $2000 @ Walmart in Nashville, TN (as of March 13, 2012), this 65-inch LED-backlit set delivers good image quality and 3D support, plus tons of user controls and great connected-TV features, all easily accessible via Vizio's usual first-rate user interface and a nifty Bluetooth remote with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
Okay, $2000 isn't dirt cheap, but only a few years ago an LCD TV this size would easily have set you back more than $5000. Plus, there's so much to like about this set--and relatively little to complain about.
It is not, however, the greenest set around--in our tests, average hourly power consumption ran 123.6 watts when in use and 0.8 watt even when turned off, which is high for an LED-backlit set. The audio is just adequate, but otherwise its only real flaw is the lack of media playback support, despite having three (!) USB 2.0 ports. Vizio promises to deliver this functionality via a firmware upgrade in the not-too-distant future. (This seems to be a recurring issue with Vizio sets: I had the same experience with a previous model, and the firmware upgrade did eventually arrive.)
With a screen this big, flaws in image quality can be magnified when you're seated up close, but in our juried picture quality tests, the XVT3D650SV earned generally good scores, especially for handling motion--it ran our panning clip nearly flawlessly. Judges found colors to be bright without being oversaturated, although at least one judge remarked on a greenish cast compared to others in its test group. The Vizio's scores may not have been the highest, but it generally held its own in a strong field that included sets from top-tier vendors LG, Samsung, and Sharp.
Audio played through the set's two 15-watt speakers with Vizio's simulated surround sound technology is unremarkable at best. However, I suspect that many people who buy a set this large with 3D support will bypass the speakers in favor of a home theater audio setup to enjoy true surround sound.
Our juried test clips don't yet include 3D content, but in my hands-on evaluation I was impressed by the 3D effects in a Blu-ray Disc of The Last Airbender. Even better was the set's ability to recognize the presence of 3D content on a Blu-ray disc with both 2D and 3D versions, and then ask whether I wanted to don special 3D glasses or stick with the 2D version. The set lets you toggle between three types of 3D content technology (and according to Vizio's spec sheet, it supports a couple more), but I never had to actually choose a 3D mode: When I clicked the option for viewing The Last Airbender on Blu-ray in 3D, the set automatically chose the right 3D setting. Vizio includes four sets of polarized glasses with the set. (It's worth noting, however, that the smart-dimming technology Vizio uses to help improve contrast and overall image quality works only for 2D video.)
I wish Vizio would stop shipping its TVs without multimedia playback support (it shouldn't be that hard, right?), but overall, the XVT3D650SV delivers the company's usual solid bundle of good image quality and current technology extras at a competitive price. If you're in the market for a supersized Smart TV with future-proofing in the form of 3D support, this set is definitely worth considering. I recommend it!
Mar 13, 2012
Iphone 4S Now Offered Straight From Apple Unlocked!
1 of 3 found this helpful iPhone 4S buyers looking for an unlocked version of the new phone can now grab one directly from Apple.
The company has just started selling an unlocked and contract-free version of its new phone. In a nutshell, that means you can use the iPhone 4S without shelling out money for the usual two-year carrier contract. You can then jump from one network to another by picking up and inserting a micro-SIM card, which is available from each supported carrier.
An unlocked phone is especially handy for people who travel around the world and want to be able to use it across a range of countries and carriers.
Of course, there are one or two catches.
The unlocked edition of the iPhone 4S supports only GSM carriers, so using the phone with CDMA-based Verizon Wireless or Sprint is not an option. And since there's no two-year contract, you'll pay the full, non-subsidized price for the phone. The 16GB iPhone 4S runs $649, the 32GB version costs $749, and the 64GB model is priced at $849.
Apple's Web site currently shows a wait time of one to two weeks for the unlocked iPhone, the same number of weeks you'd wait for the regular subsidized version. As usual, you can buy the phone in either black or white.
Mar 13, 2012
NEW Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50MM Windage Compensating Scope 1 word......
0 of 2 found this helpful AMAZING!!
This next-generation laser scope provides expert shooters with a level of sophistication only imaginable before now.
The Eliminator III features a sleek, new design that is similar to traditional riflescopes yet still incorporates state of the art electronics. Other improvements include new ergonomic activation buttons and parallax adjustment from 50 yards to infinity.
Rob Siemers, Burris Company general manager, said, “With the new Eliminator III, we have defined the next generation of modern riflescopes that incorporate technology and electronics with optical design. As the leader in this category, we are excited about the potential these new products will offer to hunters and long-range shooters.”
The current Eliminator’s split-second, automatic trajectory compensation technology has provided shooters with the invaluable ability to place ethical shots on target within seconds, which dramatically extends a shooter’s confidence and ability in the field. Now, the new Eliminator III with its X96 reticle technology provides even more accuracy, more range and a method of windage compensation. All of these elements have been perfected and are available at the push of a button at any magnification.
To achieve even greater accuracy at ranges from 750 to 1,200 yards, the Eliminator III features enhanced the ballistic programming. With the Eliminator III, the shooter enters not only the amount of drop at 750 yards for bullet and load he is shooting, but the ballistic coefficient (BC) for the chosen bullet, as well. The scope can be programmed for more than 1,500 commercially available loads.
An essential element in the Eliminator III is the new X96 reticle, which provides a convenient and accurate method to compensate for wind. Wind compensation is NOT fully automated within the scope; the digital readout displays a 10 MPH Wind Value for the shooter’s specific cartridge at the ranged as a “Dot Value.” The X96 reticle features several dots on each side of the vertical post. These Dots serve as references to the shooter to precisely hold into the wind. The shooter still needs to estimate the cross-wind value himself and also needs to convert the 10MPH Wind Value displayed to the appropriate value for the estimated actual MPH cross-wind value. The shooter then holds into the wind the appropriate “Dot Value” as shown below in the illustration below.
The Eliminator III will retail for $1,499 and will be available at retailers in July.